Craic Health co-hosts roundtable with Dr Simon Opher MP
Can CreaTech-backed comedy-on-prescription help reduce England’s £300 billion mental ill health costs?
Social prescribing schemes offer a powerful solution to rising mental health costs, delivering between £2.14 and £8.56 for every £1 invested. To mark Social Prescribing Week, Dr Simon Opher MP and Louisa Jackson are co-hosting a roundtable discussion on an innovative new healthcare model: Comedy-on-Prescription.
The panel of speakers, all of whom were involved in the world’s first Comedy-on-Prescription trials, will share insights from their experience. These trials were piloted in Westminster by CreaTech company Craic Health in partnership with One Westminster, Westminster City Council, Westminster Libraries, and comedy industry individuals and businesses.
With growing evidence supporting the role of creative health in preventative care, this roundtable discussion will explore how comedy-led interventions, backed by CreaTech, can be integrated into social prescribing pathways and scaled across the UK.
BY-INVITATION-ONLY EVENT
DATE: Thursday 13 March, 2025
TIME: 3:30PM - 5PM (Please arrive by 2:45/3PM for security clearance at Parliament)
SPEAKERS:
Dr Simon Opher MP – Pioneer of Social Prescribing & Chair of the Creative Health APPG
Louisa Jackson – Founder & CEO, Craic Technology and Craic Health
Representatives from: One Westminster | Westminster City Council & Libraries| The Comedy Industry
What is Comedy-on-Prescription?
Craic Health is proud to introduce Comedy-on-Prescription trials for Westminster, in partnership with local and national government, One Westminster Charity, and Westminster Council and Libraries. These pioneering trials harness the power of comedy-based experiences to enhance mental health, foster social connections, and boost confidence.
Craic Health is a CreaTech (creative technology) platform working with Dr Simon Opher MP to integrate Comedy-on-Prescription into NHS policy as part of Creative Health and social prescribing.
Laughter’s benefits are well documented - reducing stress, improving cardiovascular health, and fostering overall wellbeing. But don’t just take our word for it - there’s a wealth of evidence proving its impact.
‘The benefits of laughter include reduced anger, anxiety, depression, and stress; reduced tension (psychological and cardiovascular); increased pain threshold; reduced risk of myocardial infarction; improved lung function; increased energy expenditure; and reduced blood glucose concentration.’
- Laughter and MIRTH, Prof. R E Ferner, J K Aronson - British Medical Journal
While comedy events, workshops, and experiences have long supported people’s mental health and happiness, what we’re doing is different. Craic Health is developing the first-ever dedicated platform to unite all comedy-based wellbeing providers - individuals and businesses - along with their events, products, research, and connections to social prescribing and creative health networks across the UK, and beyond.
Under the umbrella term "Comedy-on-Prescription", first coined by Craic Health’s founder, Louisa Jackson, we’re pioneering a system that makes comedy an accessible and recognised tool for health and happiness.
Directions to Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament
ADDRESS: Westminster Hall, Houses of Parliament UK Parliament, London SW1A 0AA
UNDERGROUND: Nearest tube station: Westminster Tube (Jubilee, District, and Circle lines; about a 1-minute walk).
TRAIN: London Charing Cross Station Embankment Station: Served by the Bakerloo, Northern, District, and Circle lines (approximately a 10-minute walk).
BUS: Parliament Square: 3, 11, 12, 24, 53, 87, 88, 148, 159, 211, and 453; (about a 3-minute walk).
PLAN JOURNEY: TfL journey planner
The definition of Craic means ‘enjoyable time spent with others’.
This free Comedy-on-Prescription event aims to connect the Westminster community through laughter. Brought to you by…
At Craic, our mission is to lead a cultural shift by making comedy accessible to everyone. We aim to unite people – locally and globally – through the shared joy of laughter.
We believe comedy is an untapped opportunity to improve health and wellbeing. Our goal is to make comedy easier to access and help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, Craic has partnered with One Westminster, Westminster Libraries and Archives and the City of Westminster Council to trial Comedy-on-Prescription experiences. These events are connecting the Westminster community while also providing vital support to local creatives, venues, and businesses.
Curated Comedy panel game show events.
Curated Comedy workshops.
General stand-up comedy shows at some of London’s world-famous comedy venues.
All events are taking place in Westminster London, supporting local residents with the side benefit of boosting local businesses such as libraries, comedians, comedy producers, venues and more.
While modern technology often isolates us, Craic’s purpose-built comedy platform is designed to bring us back together, fostering connection through the shared joy of laughter. The team at Craic looks forward to connecting you with others, to share a laugh and enjoy the health benefits of comedy.