Going crazy can be funny.

To prove it, several brave stand-up comedians from the ground-breaking Stand Up for Mental Health bring their inspiring brand of comedy to the University of the Fraser Valley theatre in Abbotsford on Oct. 12. Armed with various mental health issues, the comics look at the lighter side of mental illness, from living with medication to surviving the health system.

The SMH troupe hope to erase the unease society has with those who have mental illness.

"We're raising awareness, breaking down stigmas and engaging Canadians in a discussion about mental illness," said Pat Hayes, executive director for the Vancouver-based SMH. While society is queasy about mental illness, the irony is most of us experience some form of it.

"One hundred per cent of us will deal with mental illness in our lives," said Bayes. Data shows that about 15 per cent of university students will be diagnosed with a mental illness while at school, while more than half of students struggle with mental health issues alone. UFV welcomes the SMH Days on Campus and recognizes mental health as a major issue, said UFV president Mark Evered.

"Mental health is an integral part of your overall health and wellbeing. Students need to care for their minds the way they care for their bodies - and not be embarrassed to seek help," he said.

UFV will offer an accredited SMH course in January and is looking for 10 $1,000 scholarships. SMH has chapters across Canada, including one in the Fraser Valley. It was first showcased in a 2005 documentary called Cracking Up on CBC's Passionate Eye.

"We use comedy to give consumers a powerful voice and help reduce the stigma and discrimination around mental illness," said David Granirer, a SMH founder, counsellor and standup comic himself. The comedy gives students a renewed sense of self-esteem and they deliver a compelling message of hope, he said. Recently, the SMH Days on Campus program was nominated for a $100,000 Pepsi Refresh grant. To win, the group needs to get the most votes of support, so Bayes is asking supporters to vote once a day until Oct. 31. See www.standupformentalhealth.com and follow their links to vote. Stand Up for Mental Health will be in the lecture theatre at UFV's Abbotsford campus, 33844 King Rd. on Oct. 12 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission is free.

CToth@abbotsfordtimes.com