#HumorTherapy

A growing movement is turning humor into therapy. Stand Up For Mental Health (SMH) trains people with mental health challenges in joke-writing and stand-up skills through a peer-led program. It aims to build confidence and resilience by using laughter as a pathway to well-being. Research from reputable psychology outlets supports humor-based interventions as a complementary approach in mental health care.

In Thailand, mental health is increasingly discussed but stigma and access barriers persist. Rising stress, depression, and anxiety affect many, especially young urban residents. SMH’s approach offers a practical model for Thailand: peer-led, community-based empowerment that can supplement traditional care and reach people who might not access formal services.

In a remarkable blend of performance art and therapy, a pioneering program led by a Canadian counselor and stand-up comic is showing the world how humor can change lives for people with mental health challenges. The Stand Up For Mental Health™ (SMH) initiative, founded by a counselor and comedian with lived experience of bipolar disorder, teaches stand-up comedy skills to individuals living with mental health issues, equipping them with newfound confidence and resilience through the healing power of laughter (Psychology Today).