Canada Post partnership means $50,000 for expansion of Stand Up for Mental Health laughter-therapy program

From Stand Up for Mental Health:

OTTAWA, Ontario -- Stand Up For Mental Health (SMH) and Canada Post April 27 announced a new $50,000 partnership that will see Canada Post become the presenting sponsor of the Stand Up For Mental Health program. The partnership will ensure the ongoing availability of SMH's highly-successful laughter-therapy program across Canada and allow its expansion to new cities including Montréal and Victoria.

"This innovative partnership will allow us to continue breaking down the prejudice, stigma and discrimination that surround mental illness," says David Granirer (pictured), counsellor, stand-up comic and founder of SMH. "With a renewed sense of self-esteem and purpose, our students deliver a compelling message of hope and empowerment."

SMH teaches members of the community to create and perform original comedy material about their mental health journeys. Mental health consumers learn to turn their problems into comedy; then perform their acts at treatment centers, for various health organizations, corporations, government agencies, on college and university campuses, military bases, in correctional facilities and most importantly, for the general public.

"Canada Post's commitment to mental health as our cause of choice continues to grow," says Anthony Wilson-Smith, vice-president of Communications at Canada Post with responsibility for the company's Cause of Choice. "Through the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health and our company support for initiatives like Stand Up For Mental Health, we provide direct, front-line support for people coping with mental health issues and work to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness."

By end of 2010, The Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health will have distributed more than $2.5 million in grants to community-based, non-profit organizations that directly help mental health consumers, their families and caregivers.

Stand Up For Mental Health has programs in Halifax (NS), Ottawa, Toronto, Guelph, Fort Francis and London (ON), Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Vancouver and Courtney (BC). New programs have recently started in Montréal (QC) and Victoria (BC).