Deena Nyer Mendlowitz is a stand-up comedian, an improviser, a teacher, and a mental health advocate. In 2024 and 2025 she was named Best Improv Comedy Performer at The Cleveland Comedy Awards. Recently she was also named one of Ohio’s funniest women and was honored as a Cleveland Jewish News Difference Maker for the work she has done using comedy to promote mental health awareness and to destigmatize mental illness. Her work has been featured on NPR, and in Kveller and USA Today. Deena is the creator of Mental Illness and Friends, a live mental health comedy talk show that combines stand-up, improv, music, and open, honest dialogue with other artists living with mental illness. You can follow Deena on instagram at @deenanyer