Laughter is the Best Medicine

Comedian and advocate Pamela Schuller is bringing her signature blend of humor and radical self-acceptance to Atlanta for two free events that will address the growing concerns around teen mental health. Hosted by BeWellATL, Schuller will lead a teen-focused event on March 23, followed by a session for parents and caregivers on March 24. Both events are designed to equip families with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate this critical issue, while destigmatizing mental health and finding humor along the way.

The events are timely, with the mental health of our young people in the national spotlight. According to the NIH, 20 percent of adolescents have a diagnosed mental health condition, a number that increased 35 percent in the last decade. Data from the CDC reports that one in five high school students seriously considered suicide in 2023, and suicide deaths among young people have risen a staggering 62 percent over the last 20 years.

Schuller, who is known for Netflix’s “Jewish Matchmaking,” and the popular “Dr. Mike” YouTube channel, knows a thing or two about teen mental health. As a teen, she was diagnosed with the most severe case of Tourette Syndrome in the entire country. The condition, which causes her to make uncontrollable noises and movements, left her angry, depressed and suicidal during her already vulnerable teen years. Over time, she learned to not only embrace herself as-is but to celebrate her differences, and, as an adult, Schuller has turned her adversity into advocacy as an internationally known disability and mental health advocate and professional comedian.

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Schuller’s personal struggles played a key role in winning the hearts of the members of BeWellATL’s Teen Roundtable. BeWellATL, an initiative of Jewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS), is dedicated to destigmatizing mental health issues, raising awareness, and educating the public about the challenges young people face. The Teen Roundtable serves as an advisory board for this important work. Inspired by Schuller’s authentic humor and relatability, the group wanted her to be part of the initiative.

“Pamela is an incredible voice that inspires resilience and self-acceptance. She grabs you with her humor, but underneath is a woman who has been through profound challenges as a young person,” said Rebecca Brown, LCSW, director of adult clinical services at JF&CS. “Through these experiences, she’s figured out how to bring light to a difficult topic which has earned her the respect of people of all ages.”

The following is an interview with Schuller:

Q: Do you have a go-to mantra you repeat to yourself when you’re having a bad day?

A: I have a few favorite mantras. My first is “it won’t always feel this way.” I repeat that to myself when I get a rejection or am going through something hard. I can acknowledge that something hurts but it’s helpful to remind myself that it won’t always hurt like this. I also remind myself that if something is meant for me, it will find me. So, if I don’t get a part in a TV show or get turned down for something I was hoping for, I remind myself that it doesn’t mean I messed up. It simply means that opportunity wasn’t meant for me. The ones that are, will find me!

Q: What grounds you when things feel overwhelming?

A: Laughter and creativity! For years, comedy was a way that I processed the world around me. Now that comedy is my career, I still use writing jokes as a way to process and my close friend group consists of an incredible group of comedians who not only make me laugh, but will also hang with me while I have a meltdown and we all show up for each other when things are hard.

One Cause, Two Events

On March 23, teens are invited to join Schuller for “Be Bold, Be You: Comedy and Courage.” Teens will spend their afternoon hearing about Schuller’s journey transforming severe Tourette Syndrome and OCD into an unstoppable force of comedy and storytelling, followed by an interactive workshop to help the teens process and tell their own stories. They will leave with a new perspective on how differences make us unique and feel empowered to see the potential in their own stories.

On March 24, parents and caregivers are invited to “Building Resilience: Learning from Failure.” During this special performance and workshop, Schuller will share real-life stories from her experiences working with communities that have successfully (and unsuccessfully) created supportive environments for teens. Guided by her signature humor, attendees will explore topics like understanding the challenges their teens face, the importance of building resilience and learning from setbacks, and navigating common tension points. Parents and caregivers will leave with practical strategies to implement and helpful tools and resources.
Schuller’s upcoming events offer a unique opportunity to address teen mental health with both humor and heart. These free events are an important step toward breaking the stigma around mental health and fostering a stronger, more supportive community for young people and their caregivers.

More information about Pamela Schuller is available at PamelaComedy.com, and information about BeWellATL is available at bewellatl.org. Registration is required for these free events at https://give.jfcsatl.org/event/mental-health-laugh-and-learn-with-pamela-schuller/e662951. Events are located in the North Metro Atlanta area, and specific location will be given upon registration.

JF&CS Marketing contributed to this report.