Founded by comedian Brad Bonar Jr., 1° builds on more than 400 events, 110 military installations, and 100,000+ people equipped to have conversations about depression and suicide.
ROSEVILLE, Calif., Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 1° of Separation is taking its unconventional approach to suicide prevention across the country, using comedy and practical tools to open conversations about depression and suicide.
Throughout September, 1° will deliver 16 events in 11 states, reaching service members, veterans, military families, and communities from Indiana to Hawaii.
To date, 1° of Separation has delivered more than 400 events, reached 120 military installations, and distributed more than 100,000 Five Questions cards.
Founder Brad Bonar Jr., who openly shares his experience with depression, says conversation is essential.
“There are so many steps to dealing with depression. The first is to talk about it.”
A 1° show uses comedy to go directly into the uncomfortable, personal, and often unspoken parts of life, including depression and suicide. Bonar says comedians can break stigma by joking about difficult subjects, lowering defenses, and creating room for honesty.
The comedians share their experiences with depression using the program’s Five Questions, demonstrating what a nonjudgmental conversation sounds like.
As Bonar has explained, “We teach people how to have a conversation and demonstrate what that looks like.”
During a 2026 military presentation, Bonar told attendees, “When you leave today, you will leave with a new skill.” That skill is recognizing signs of depression, starting the conversation, listening without judgment, and helping someone get support.
September stops include Seymour Johnson Air Force Base; Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, with six presentations over three days; Silverdale, Washington; Chillicothe, Ohio; Syracuse, New York; Camp Rapid, South Dakota; Fort Wayne, Indiana; New Jersey; Joint Base Andrews, Maryland; Hartford, Connecticut; and Honolulu, Hawaii.
THE POWER OF THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU
Across audiences, 1° reinforces one universal truth: depression crosses demographic, cultural, professional, and geographic boundaries.
In an interview with PBS NewsHour, Bonar described the person who may first encounter someone struggling not as a clinician or mental health professional, but as “your friend, the person next to you.”
1° of Separation gives people tools and the confidence to notice, listen, ask questions, and begin conversations that might otherwise never happen.
Depression has one degree of separation: if you don’t suffer yourself, you know someone who does.
For 1° of Separation, Suicide Prevention Month is about turning awareness into action, one honest conversation at a time.
About 1° of Separation
1° of Separation is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by comedian Brad Bonar Jr. Its signature program, “A Funny Look at Depression and Suicide,” combines stand-up comedy, lived experience, and the Five Questions to break stigma and help people begin honest conversations about mental health.
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SOURCE 1° of Separation
