Standup comedy course for men at risk of suicide wins NHS funding

Comedy On Referral will help vulnerable adults in London after successful course in Bristol for trauma survivors

Standup comedy is regularly listed as one of the toughest jobs in the world, featuring heavily in 90% of people's top 10 fears.

But a course helping some of the most vulnerable people in the country by teaching them to be comedians is proving so successful that it is being socially prescribed by NHS trusts and private practices across the country.

In the UK, the youth suicide charity Papyrus can be contacted on 0800 068 4141 or by email at pat@papyrus-uk.org. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or by email at jo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org