Supported by Labour MP Dr. Simon Opher, who has voiced concerns about the over-reliance on medication for mental health issues, this initiative aims to offer an alternative to traditional treatments
In a groundbreaking approach to mental health care, comedy-based interventions are being explored as a prescription for those struggling with mental health issues. Craic Health, a technology firm, has secured funding for a social prescribing scheme that uses stand-up shows, workshops, and other comedic interventions to help individuals who are isolated or vulnerable.
Supported by Labour MP Dr. Simon Opher, who has voiced concerns about the over-reliance on medication for mental health issues, this initiative aims to offer an alternative to traditional treatments. Dr. Opher, who has been instrumental in pioneering the comedy prescriptions in Gloucestershire, believes that such events could have a significant positive impact on those suffering from mental health challenges.
In a time when one in five adults in the UK are on antidepressants, Dr. Opher points to the lack of immediate access to alternative therapies as a major factor. “If you go and see a GP with mild to moderate depression, the wait for psychological services can be four to six months,” Opher explains. “That’s not a supportive treatment, and that’s when people often turn to prescriptions.”
Recognizing the gap, Opher has turned to innovative solutions like comedy to address the mental health crisis. He believes that comedy can provide an outlet for emotional release, foster connection, and improve mental well-being in ways that traditional treatments may not.
Next month, Dr. Opher will join Craic Health’s founder, Lu Jackson, to host an event in Parliament to discuss the success of these trials and explore the potential benefits of comedy-based treatments. Jackson, who founded Craic Health, emphasized that this is the first time such an initiative has been tried, and the results are proving exciting. “It’s an entirely new way to look at mental health treatment,” Jackson says. “If laughter can make you feel better, why not harness its power as a healing tool?”
The trials have already shown promising results in Gloucestershire, and there is growing interest in expanding the program to reach more people in need of support. For individuals dealing with isolation, mild depression, or anxiety, comedy could offer an accessible, enjoyable, and effective alternative to more traditional, clinical approaches. With mental health challenges continuing to rise globally, initiatives like comedy prescriptions could represent an innovative step toward more holistic, engaging, and potentially life-changing care.
