Stand-up comedians often draw laughter from dark places, but can influential, skilled comedians influence how suicide is discussed in society?

Dr. Darren Valenta, assistant professor of communication studies at Concordia, along with students Saige Mattson ’27 and Olivia Slyter ’25, will explore the question in an upcoming Centennial Lecture. “‘Drive Me to Doggy Daycare’: Stand-up Comedy’s Impact on Suicidality Discourse” will be presented from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, in Room 124 of the Olin Art and Communications Center.

“My hope is that this ‘lecture’ will feel more like an interactive experience, with discussion, questions, laughter, etc.,” Valenta said, noting that the event will include small and large group discussions about the role of comedy in handling difficult topics, brief clips of stand-up comedy for analysis, and time for audience questions.

“While most comedians offer catharsis in some way, few possess the necessary wit, precision, and talent to draw laughter from discussions of suicidality,” states the article that forms the basis of the presentation. “Mental health and suicide are prevalent topics in today’s society, and the ways in which they are discussed hold immense societal weight. As a potential component of larger, more sustained mental health and anti-suicide advocacy, media representations of suicidality must avoid contributing to suicide contagion, ‘an increase in suicide and suicidal behaviors as a result of the exposure to suicide or suicidal behavior in one’s family, peer group, or through media reports.’”

The World Health Organization has published criteria for responsibly engaging in discourse surrounding suicide, and the article applies those criteria for preventing suicide contagion to the work of five prominent comedians — Maria Bamford, Patton Oswalt, Taylor Tomlinson, Nikki Glaser, and George Carlin.

Suicide is a public health issue, and help is available for people in crisis.

• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or those looking to help someone else. Call 988 to speak with a trained listener.
• The Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To text with a trained helper, text SAVE to 741741. It is free, available 24/7, and confidential.
• Support, treatment, and learning new coping skills do help most people who have thought about suicide, and recovery is possible.