CINCINNATI, OH -- November 2, 2007 --  Nationally Known Mental Health Speaker/Author, and professional touring Stand Up Comedian, Paul “Bipolar Boy” Jones has yet again beaten the odds. Jones filled the Temple Theater in Saginaw, Michigan on the 29th and 30th. People, young and old, showed up for his presentation of “From Depressed to Refreshed in 60 Minutes”. Why is this so unusual? Because Jones, using his gift of comedy, speaks out about such taboo things as Suicide, Depression, and Mental Illness.

Jones was brought to Saginaw by both, Health Source and the Kostrezwa Foundation (pronounced “Castrava”). The two groups brought him in for the sole purpose of reaching out to their local community, in an effort to help de-stigmatize Mental Health. According to the CDC 1 in 4 adults over the age of 18 will suffer from a diagnosable mental illness each year in the United States. “You mean to tell me 25 percent of our country’s adults have mental illness, and we are still hiding?” says Jones during his performance. He goes on to say, “How many people are in Congress, 535? Do the math folks, at least 133 of them are whacko at any given moment”. The audience bursts into laughter, then fades to a pondering silence, as if to say, “No wonder”.

During October 29th’s 7:00 PM show, Jones performed in front of a packed house. The show, open to the general public, saw an audience on the edge of their seats for 65 minutes. The show on the 30th was just as emotional. 1,300 of the area’s high school students poured into the Temple Theater at 9:00am for the 9:30am show, ready to hear what Jones had to say.

“Young people do not care to talk about such serious issues” Mr. Jones says he is told day in and day out. Yet in one testimonial a young Saginaw girl states, “I will not do suicide now, I promise”. These types of testimonials are not uncommon after people hear Paul speak, proving that all people, young and old, in fact do wish to speak about such “serious issues”. These testimonials also prove that by talking about them, lives can be saved.

“Our country is in Mental Turmoil and we need to address it before it gets any worse. We have people afraid to get help, we have sub-standard resources in many parts of the country, and most people don’t really know what having a healthy brain really means” says Jones during his Monday performance. “Not all people pushing a grocery cart on the streets are mentally ill, they are all one thing, thief’s, where did they get the grocery cart?” the crowd erupts into laughter and yet again silences to ponder the thought. “You see folks, your brain can get sick just like your pancreas, the difference is you would never look at a diabetic and tell them to “snap” out of their diabetes now would you?” ,again laughter and silent pondering.

You can find pictures of the event at www.paulejones.com as well as other information about Paul.

For more information or to speak to Mr. Jones please contact:

Steve Schrenk
ZassCo Productions
877-984-2665 or 513-407-9255
You may also call Mr. Jones direct at 513-545-0722
 
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