1° of Separation Launches Global Comedy Tour for Suicide Prevention Month

From U.S. military bases to South Korea and college campuses, the nonprofit will bring life-saving mental health training through laughter and conversation this September.

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 1° of Separation, the nonprofit using comedy to break stigma and save lives, is embarking on a world tour this September in honor of Suicide Prevention Month. The organization will deliver its unique comedy-based suicide prevention training across the U.S. and overseas, reaching service members, students, and communities with humor, hope, and practical mental health tools.

This year's tour spans over 20 events in 15 states and South Korea, including military bases such as Travis AFB (CA), Tinker AFB (OK), Moody AFB (GA), Goodfellow AFB (TX), Vance AFB (OK), Volk Field (WI), Hurlburt Field (FL), and Langley AFB (VA). The team will also perform at Sierra College (CA), community venues in Florida and Ohio, and culminate with an international stop in South Korea.

"We take the hardest subject people face and meet it with honesty, humor, and humanity," said Brad Bonar Jr., comedian and founder of 1° of Separation. "Every time we perform, you can see the room shift. People go from guarded to open. That's when real conversations about mental health begin."

In past interviews, Bonar has shared, "Comedy breaks down walls. Once people are laughing, they're ready to talk about the stuff that matters. That's where healing starts."

With suicide claiming 49,449 American lives in 2022 and remaining the second leading cause of death for ages 10–34, the stakes are high. Suicide now takes nearly one active-duty service member every day and over 17 veterans each day, with the Department of Defense reporting active-duty suicide rates rising to 28.3 per 100,000 in 2023. 1° of Separation is among the few nonprofit programs officially recognized across multiple branches of the military as suicide prevention training.

This September's tour is made possible by partnerships with U.S. Air Force Bases, Sierra College and community organizations working to confront the urgent crisis of depression and suicide.

Tour Highlights:

• Sept 4 – Travis AFB (CA)
  
  
• Sept 6–7 – Ft. Smith AR, Little Rock AR, Tinker AFB (OK), McConnell AFB (KS)
  
  
• Sept 9–12 – Moody AFB (GA), Sierra College (CA), Jacksonville (FL), Vance AFB (OK), Goodfellow AFB (TX)
  
  
• Sept 14–18 – Volk Field (WI), Anchorage (AK), Hurlburt Field (FL), Springfield & Cincinnati (OH), Mansfield (OH), New Mexico
  
  
• Sept 23–26 – South Korea (multiple shows), Langley AFB (VA), Syracuse (NY)

"This is more than a tour—it's a movement," added Victoria Bonar, COO & VP of 1° of Separation. "Every stage we step onto is another opportunity to save lives by making mental health a conversation people aren't afraid to have."

For interviews, media access, or to learn more about bringing 1° of Separation to your community, please contact Brad Bonar Jr. at [email protected] or (916) 607-2684. More resources and tour information available at 1DegreeOfSeparation.life or Press Kit

About 1° of Separation: 1 Degree of Separation is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides suicide prevention training 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.

SOURCE 1° of Separation