We could all do with a laugh right now, right? Right. Well, you’re in luck. Tune in to your tele-screens and social media feeds at 9pm on Tuesday, 24 March for the first ever Comedy Against Living Miserably.
It does what it says on the tin - delivering some much needed humour in these utterly-odd times. Join host Joel Dommett, and a load of other funny, funny people like Judi Love, John Robins and Kiri Pritchard-McLea, over on Dave, for a whole hour of, well, funny.
While a good laugh is all well and good, the team at DAVE and CALM hope that Comedy Against Living Miserably will help to create a positive and open culture when it comes to mental health.
CALM CEO Simon Gunning explains:
“We've seen how comedy can be an effective vehicle for conversations around mental health, suicide, and generally being there for your mates when things get tough. Comedy Against Living Miserably promises bags of fun with an important message underneath."
One of the stars of the show Judi Love agreed: “What got me so excited about Comedy Against Living Miserably is the fact that I can be united with so many other comedians and a organisation that is changing the narrative about mental health and challenging the stigmas and give people the space to speak if they’re going through something”
For John Robins it was great to speak to other comedians about things they might not get to explore otherwise:
"Apart from it being such a good cause I love the idea that we can have a chat with other comics and that it was a great way to expand on the stuff you might just touch on in your set, and it was really interesting to hear their take on things.”
The CALM X DAVE partnership kicked off in November 2018, with our first ever Ad Takeover. We followed up with a whole host of adverts across TV, print, radio and social media, that encouraged audiences to reach out to their pals. The campaign also introduced ALAN, a simple, shareable acronym to help make checking in on a buddy a little easier.
There was also #BeTheMateYoudWant, a campaign that was all about the idea that small gestures from a friend can be a lifeline for someone who is going through a tough time. There was an ad takeover to encourage people to do something to show a mate they’re there for them.
And if you’re struggling…
There’s lots to think about right now. From financial worries, to anxiety around you and your loved ones’ health – it’s easy for thoughts to become overwhelming.
Whatever’s getting you down, our free, anonymous and confidential webchat and helpline services are open from 5pm to midnight for anyone who needs to talk.