August 13, 2025 
The QR
Dave Chawner is not in Edinburgh to praise the the prevailing attitudes towards mental health in society, he’s here to bury them…with laughter.Ok, that’s a bit strong, but it’s safe to say Dave doesn’t think much of GPs prescribing forest bathing or baths to patients who complain of low mood or anxiety. Mention baths to him as a treatment, and he may scream.With his own history of Anorexia, he’s more than aware of the lack of visibility accorded to male sufferers. What he doesn’t want is pity. He’d far rather tell an eyebrow-raising anecdote and make an audience aware of the problem through good humour.However, the creator of the ‘Comedy for Coping’ programme, developed in collaboration with Dr Dieter Declercq of Kent University, is seeking more than just attention to one problem. He wants to reframe the entire conversation.Everyone has mental health, he points out; not everyone has a mental illness. By conflating the two, we impair society’s ability to deal with both.He finds plenty to be humorously outraged in all sorts of places, not least excessive trigger warnings, and the wild, rainbow-hued world of Lush cosmetics. The folks who are best provided for, he points out, are the middle classes, and he has great fun staring with disbelief at the burgeoning genre of celebrity books on their…you guessed it, mental health. Thanks for the visibility, says Dave, but maybe you could do more with your financial clout than…checks notes…boost your own profile.Ok, so there’s a very strong set of opinions underpinning ‘Mental’, and doubtless they will clash with audiences should they arrive with their own. However, maybe listen to what he has to say before deciding whether he’s your enemy or ally.Overall, I think Dave Chawner is at his funniest when talking about his lived experience and pointing out the absurd things people say and do when you bring up the subject of mental health. Stories he only has because he’s willing to put himself and his ideas out there. Lively, animated, and not above poking fun at himself, he’s out to make you feel better, and on the whole, I think he does.If you’re on board with his vision of more practical and less demonstrative social approaches to mental health, this is easily a 4-star show. If not, all bets are off. So I’ve opted for taking no sides…But I do think you’d find an hour with Dave Chawner very interesting either way! Click Here For Review