1° of Separation Brings Suicide Prevention to Alaska Natives and Veterans with Life-Saving Comedy
UNALASKA, Alaska, July 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 1° of Separation, a groundbreaking nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention and mental health awareness to reduce the stigma of depression and suicide through humor and honest dialogue, will be a featured presenter at the Alaska Native Cultural Health and Resilience Gathering & ETR Career Fair, held July 10-13 in Unalaska, Alaska. 1° of Separation is honored to be welcomed into this gathering, joining a long-standing tradition of community healing, storytelling, and connection that defines Alaska Native culture.
The ANCHR Gathering, funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs' Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, is dedicated to promoting community wellness, addressing historical trauma, and fostering cultural healing, tailored specifically to Alaska Native communities and veterans, two groups profoundly affected by suicide and mental health challenges, yet rooted in deep cultural strength, resilience, and intergenerational wisdom.
Alaska Native communities face suicide rates significantly above the national average, with alarming rates as high as 60.5 per 100,000 in rural regions. Young Alaska Natives and veterans are particularly vulnerable, highlighting the urgency for culturally sensitive suicide prevention programs and targeted mental health first aid training.
"Our Suicide Prevention Training Program blends humor and heartfelt personal stories to break down stigma and create an open dialogue about mental health," explains Brad Bonar Jr., founder of 1° of Separation. "Through this interactive approach, we demonstrate what a supportive conversation looks like and equip attendees with essential mental health first aid skills."
The training program is divided into two parts. First, a clean comedy set features each of the four professional comedians, introducing audiences to the comedians in their natural element and using humor. Laughter serves as a kind of "numbing agent" or ice-breaker that chemically and emotionally creates a sense of calm and safety in an audience. "As soon as you're laughing it brings calm and safety… We chemically change your brain before we have a serious conversation," Bonar explains. After the comedy, the same comedians "drop the act" and come together for a candid panel discussion, openly answering the "Five Questions" about their personal experiences with depression. This genuine dialogue demonstrates how to start and maintain important mental health conversations.
The Five Questions are:
- What does your depression feel like?
- What do others do that makes it worse?
- What do others do that makes it better?
- What do you do that makes it worse?
- What do you do that makes it better?
Each audience member receives a copy of these questions after the show, providing an immediate, practical mental health first aid tool to help them start their own conversations. To date, more than 60,000 cards featuring the Five Questions have been distributed both nationally and internationally, transforming discussions around mental health into actionable, stigma-breaking interactions.
"Depression has one degree of separation: if you don't suffer, someone you know does," says Bonar. "We laugh at the dark stuff because laughter releases the pain. We talk openly about depression because no one should ever feel shame."
With an army of comedians, 1° of Separation aims to "kill the stigma" surrounding depression, fostering dialogue, awareness, and acceptance for those struggling through vulnerability and laughter.
About 1° of Separation: 1 Degree of Separation is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides suicide prevention training and mental health education with a comedic twist. Founded in 2019 by comedian Brad Bonar Jr., the organization's mission is to reduce stigma and save lives by fostering honest conversations about depression and suicide. 1° of Separation combines stand-up comedy with vital Mental Health First Aid education, creating an engaging and safe space where audiences can laugh while learning how to support those in need. Its innovative training show – "A Funny Look at Depression and Suicide" – has reached thousands across more than 15 U.S. states, and internationally to U.S. military installations. Participants leave equipped with practical tools like the program's signature "Five Questions" card, which encourages open and non-judgmental dialogues about mental health. 1° of Separation has been featured in media outlets such as KCRA News, Capital Public Radio, and military press, and was a keynote speaker at the 2023 DoD/VA Suicide Prevention Conference. By using humor, personal stories, and the 5 Questions, 1° of Separation aims to inspire hope and humanize mental health struggles, fostering resilience in individuals and communities—one laugh at a time. Learn more at www.1degreeofseparation.life.
SOURCE 1° of Separation
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