// BBC HEALTH NEWS — SALUTE
Mental health is no joke - but I've turned it into a stand-up routine
Michael says he did "a lot of practising" for his stand-up debut
Stepping onto the stage for the first time, Michael Hart is "flying" with adrenaline.
He didn't think he had it in him, but he's about to tell his own jokes to a room full of strangers.
He stutters at first but soon gets his first laugh from the crowd and the nerves he's feeling are washed away by a wave of elation.
Michael is part of a group of people who have struggled with mental ill-health and are now giving stand-up a go to build up their self-belief and connect with others.
Through the Finding Our Funny workshops run by the charity Inspire, they're turning their experiences into comedy material - and then taking it on the road for three gigs across Northern Ireland this month.
The comics have performed gigs in Enniskillen, Londonderry and Belfast
Michael has sought help for his mental health over the past few years and has struggled with his confidence.
Given those circumstances, throwing himself into stand-up is a daunting prospect - but he's embraced the challenge.
"The first thing I said was: 'What's the worst that can go wrong?