A comedy troupe will perform a special show at Avon High School Friday, Oct. 25, addressing the serious topic of suicide and mental health.
Patch Staff
NAMI Farmington Valley
AVON, CT — Folks and families with children aged 12 and up are invited to enjoy a fun comedy performance in Avon Friday that has a very, very serious aim.
NAMI Farmington Valley, an affiliate of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and NAMI-CT, will present "1 Degree of Separation."
It is a free live show that employs comedy and laughter to address the serious subject of depression and suicide prevention.
Ultimately, the event hopes to address the stigma of mental illness.
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It will be Friday, Oct. 25, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Avon High School auditorium located at 510 West Avon Road, Avon. The event is free, with a suggested donation of $10.
Doors open at 6:30 pm with an opportunity to explore community resources.
After the show, a “Meet & Greet” will be held with the "1 Degree of Separation" comedians.
The presentation is suggested for ages 12 and older.
"1 Degree of Separation" is a national live comedy show and suicide prevention program created by California comedian, Brad Bonar, Jr.
The performance uses comedians to talk about anxiety, depression, and suicide.
It debuted in January 2019 and since then, more than 100 performances have been held around the country.
Audiences have included middle school, high school, and college students, families, first responders, and U.S. military officers.
“Depression has one degree of separation: if you don’t suffer then someone you know does,” said Bonar. “We laugh at the dark stuff because laughter releases pain. We talk about depression because no one should feel shame. Our talented comedians bring humor and light to these heavy subjects, showing that we are all just 1 degree of separation away from someone who may bestruggling, and there’s an urgency for this message. ”
“We invite the Avon community, and beyond, to join us for a night of laughter and awareness and to come away with tools and skills for important conversations that could save lives. We know that the response to these shows has been impactful and life-changing and talking about it is the first step to saving lives,” said Lynne Benjamin, president of NAMI Farmington Valley, which is headquartered in Avon.
For more information and to register, visit this link.
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