David Granirer

Counselor & Stand-Up Comic

David Granirer

Counselor & Stand-Up Comic

Add to List Availability & Fees

Biography

David Granirer is a counselor, stand-up comic, and mental health keynote speaker. David, who himself has depression has taught stand-up comedy to recovering addicts and cancer patients, and founded Stand Up For Mental Health, his program teaching comedy to people with mental health issues in 2004. His work is featured by media worldwide and in the Voice Award winning Passionate Eye documentary Cracking Up and the award-winning Australian documentary Crack Up.

He has trained Stand Up For Mental Health groups in partnership with various mental health organizations in over 35 cities in Canada, the U.S., and Australia.

He is the recipient of a Welcome Back Award from National Council for Behavioral Health for his work using comedy to de-stigmatize mental illness.

He also received a Champion of Mental Health Award. These national awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the mental health agenda in Canada.

He is also the recipient of a Life Unlimited Award presented by the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance. This is a national award given to individuals who live a life unlimited by their mood disorders and inspire others to do the same.

His program also won a Rotary Shine On Award in Australia for special achievement in mental health.

Since 2004 David and his comics have performed over 500 shows for mental health organizations, government departments, corporations, universities, correctional facilities, and the military.

“What I see is a greater acceptance of ‘out of the box’ ideas both in promoting recovery and fighting stigma and discrimination,” says Granirer. People seem to be ready to use humor to shine a light on some pretty dark and serious issues. I really believe that what they say is true: Laughter is the best medicine.”

Recently, Granirer was awarded the prestigious Meritorious Service Medal for his work with Stand Up For Mental Health by the Governor General of Canada.

Speaker Videos

Speaking Reel

Destigmatizing Mental Illness

What's so funny about mental health?

Stand Up For Mental Health | The Nationals

Destroying the Myths of Mental Illness

Stand Up for Mental Health

The Goals of Stand Up For Mental Health

Cracking Up

See Fewer Videos

Speech Topics

I'm OK but YOU Need Professional Help: Creating Recovery – One Laugh at a Time!

In this hilarious presentation award-winning counselor and stand up comic David Granirer who himself suffers from depression looks at how comedy builds confidence and busts the stigma around mental illness. He’ll show you mental health from a totally different perspective while uplifting, inspiring and educating you.

David will do comedy about his recovery story and tell you about Stand Up For Mental Health, his award-winning program teaching comedy to people with mental health issues. And through video clips, you’ll get to see his comics creating recovery – one laugh at a time!

Stand Up for Mental Health Show

Led by counselor and stand-up comic David Granirer, Stand Up for Mental Health teaches people with mental illness to do stand-up comedy about their mental health journeys as a way of building confidence and self esteem. By doing stand-up comedy, something that most so-called “normal” people would never want to attempt, the Stand Up for Mental Health comics fight stigma by demonstrating what people with mental illness are capable of doing.

This show takes a hilarious look at the lighter side of taking meds, dealing with addictions, seeing counselors, getting diagnosed, and surviving the mental health system. It’s not only funny, but it makes a great awareness-raising event that helps people reevaluate their attitudes towards mental illness and addictions.

For this show, Granirer will take five to ten consumers from your organization, turn them into stand-up comics, and have them perform with him. You’ll laugh your head off and see the courageous, funny, and resilient side of people with mental health issues.

Standing Up for Mental Health: Fighting Stigma in the Workplace!

Mental disability now accounts for 30-40% of workplace disability claims. And people often don’t go for the help they need until it’s too late.

Why? Because they’re ashamed to admit they have mental health issues and afraid of public stigma. So they try to tough it out. But as their mental health deteriorates, so does their work and their relationships with colleagues.

The end result? Problems that could have been dealt with upfront end up costing millions of dollars in disability claims and lost productivity.

This presentation combines comedy and education. Your people will learn:

About the challenges people with mental illness face at work
How people with mental illness can exceed expectations when given the proper support
How to support people with mental illness in the workplace
How talking about and accepting mental illness is the key to allowing people to function at their full potential

Getting the Laughs You Need!

In today’s world of mental health, stress is a major challenge to everyone’s well being. Laughter is the cure, the best medicine, a cod liver oil for the soul. And the wonderful thing is that unlike cod liver oil, a dose of laughter is not only good for you, it also feels good to take!

What’s in it for you? This presentation is not just a hilarious keynote. You’ll also learn:

Fun and easy stress management techniques
How to use to humor to defuse tense situations
How to use laughter to enhance physical and emotional well being
Positive ways to respond to stressful situations
How to use humor to overcome burnout
How to use humor to aid in the recovery process

Mental Health from a Different Perspective: Book David for a Virtual Show!

Our virtual shows feature award-winning counselor David Granirer, RPC, MPCC, M.S.M. and his All-Star comics each doing hilarious sets about their mental health recovery journeys. That’s right, you get a group of comics for the price of one! The shows are funny, inspiring, and educational, which is just what we need in mental health during this time of COVID. David and his comics will show you mental health from a totally different perspective!

Testimonials

"Thank you so much for keeping the audience in fits of laughter – it was a fun way to start the conference. The way you mixed mental health and comedy really clicked with our people as you could tell by the standing ovation. It’s great to see the way you find humor in such a serious topic."

- Client

"We had rave reviews on your keynote at our conference. The audience loved how you used humor to make some really great points about mental health and stigma, and how hopeful and uplifting your message was. Thank you for sharing with us the amazing work you do!"

- American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

"David did a fantastic job during our leadership certificate program and for the keynote presentation. Unfortunately, his was our first keynote presentation of the week and our board of directors wanted to acknowledge and talk about the tragedy in Las Vegas during the opening announcements. Not the easiest thing to do to go from speaking about such great loss of life to transitioning to comedy. We warned David in advance so he was prepared and he did an amazing job of working it into his presentation and then moving forward. He kept the audience laughing while hitting home with his message on working with those with mental illness. A total home-run!"

- American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

"I wanted to say how wonderful David was. His presentation was informative, engaging, and funny. I most of all loved how personable and down-to-earth he was. I would love to have him back in the near future!"

- Edgewater Behavioral Health Services

"Thanks for an amazing keynote presentation. In nine years of having our conference you are only the second speaker to get a standing ovation! You were funny, inspiring, and totally relevant to the work we do in behavioral health. The way you use comedy to empower people with mental health issues and to reduce stigma is amazing."

- Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council

"You are an amazing man and having you start our symposium with a lot of laughter was a stroke of genius. I have heard nothing but glowing comments from attendees. They loved the whole event and loved starting the day off with you. Count on our inviting you back."

- Executive Director, Mental Health Association of East Tennessee

"Our people were all raving about how amazing your presentation was. It was the perfect combination of humor and education. What you've been doing with mental health consumers is truly incredible. Your program should be offered everywhere."

- Oregon Department of Human Services, Addictions and Mental Health Division (AMH)

"David was an absolute delight who added a new dimension to our Awards Dinner. Equally entertaining and empowering, he made us laugh and think. We could have spent the entire evening listening to him. His talents go beyond comedy and touch our hearts and minds."

- Mental Health America

"The feedback from David’s keynote and workshop was excellent. People enjoyed themselves while learning a unique technique to combat stigma. The work David does, teaching other people to use stand-up comedy, is amazing and empowering. One of the best Keynotes we’ve ever had. "

- PA Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services

"We've been flooded with great feedback from the comedy performance and documentary screening you did for us. People loved the way you found the humor in your mental health experiences and had us all laughing non-stop. Your work is funny and inspiring and a great way to educate the public about mental illness. Who would have thought a presentation on such a serious topic could be so much fun?"

- Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Vinfen

"I should mention that you were a big hit at the conference. You ended the event on a high note and participants very much enjoyed your presentation. I got a personal thank you note from our Division Administrator and her boss—first time that has happened in over 10 years of doing the conference."

- Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services

"The WISE Stand Up for Mental Health show at Shell Refinery for Movember was a fantastic success. We had over 100 people attend and to see them laughing and enthralled in the show was brilliant. Reducing stigma associated around mental health is such an important issue. I think this was driven home to all when nearly the whole room raised their hands to say they know someone with a mental illness. It is an issue that reaches far and wide in our society and we should all be doing something about it. The comics put a human face to those living with mental illness in a funny, intelligent and articulate manner, which touched many in the room. The discussions I heard post the event suggest that the topic certainly hit a nerve with many of our employees. I have had nothing but glowing reports about the show and I think it will be the talk of the refinery for some time to come. Thank you to all of you for making the show such a great success."

- Shell

"When we booked Stand Up For Mental Health, there was a wee bit of uncertainty. Would it be the right fit? Would David be side-splitting funny, yet also erase stigma and educate about the power of recovery? How does one even do that—really? Well, we should not have doubted! Positive comments from the more than 300 people in attendance are still coming in to my office. David's style of self-deprecating humor kept people laughing. His edgy comments were never too much for the audience; but they were provocative enough to make them think and re-think, and laugh while doing it. Our community mental health agency is marking 50 years of service this year, and our related Foundation is celebrating 30. This evening of inspiration, laughter and motivation was just the way to celebrate. We Stood Up For Mental Health and are glad that we did."

- West Yavapai Guidance Clinic

"The words of one of the attendees said it all when she said that two years from now she would not remember what some "Expert" on mental health had said, but she would never forget the "Stand Up For Mental Health" presentation that you and your "mental health consumers" gave us. The presenters made us laugh and helped us open both our hearts and our minds. Each of the presenters was unique and wonderful—and you did a superb job of putting everyone at ease, creating a context for the show, and together with your team, giving people the message that no matter what the obstacle, with support and acceptance, people can move forward and succeed in their lives."

- HRDC/Yukon Region

"Your show was the perfect way to end the day at our conference. As you could tell by all the laughter and applause, your presentation really struck a chord with our audience. We really admired the comic's courage in talking about their mental illness through comedy. Humour is a great way to educate people about mental illness, and we could see the positive therapeutic effects for the comics as well. Feedback on our evaluation was top notch and one comment on a welcome new insight learned that illustrates the importance "pushing the envelope" of social comfort level to "break the silence" on mental illness (with humour) was insightful: IRREVERANCE!! This is powerful and important work you are doing.  We all appreciate it greatly!"

- Camosun College Planning Committee, Healthy Minds-Healthy Campuses Conference