Comedy-on-Prescription: The Future of Preventative Healthcare

3 Feb

On Thursday 13 March 2025, the Houses of Parliament will host a landmark roundtable on Comedy-on-Prescription, an innovative approach to mental health and social prescribing.

This invite-only event, co-hosted by Dr Simon Opher MP and myself, will bring together key policymakers, healthcare leaders, and comedy industry professionals to explore how laughter can be harnessed to improve wellbeing and reduce the UK’s £300 billion mental health burden.

Why Comedy-on-Prescription?

Social prescribing is proving its value, delivering between £2.14 and £8.56 for every £1 invested. Comedy is a natural fit—proven to reduce stress, improve social connection, and boost mental resilience. Our Westminster trials, run in partnership with One Westminster, Westminster City Council, and Westminster Libraries, have shown its potential in action, with over 97% of participants saying they want to attend future events.

The Roundtable: What’s on the Agenda?

An overview of the problems and solutions
Lessons from the world’s first Comedy-on-Prescription trials in Westminster
Integrating CreaTech-backed interventions into NHS policy
Scaling comedy-led social prescribing across the UK
The role of Craic, the comedy industry, government, key organisations and institutions

Speakers Include:

Dr Simon Opher MP – Social prescribing pioneer (MBE); Chair of the Creative Health APPG
Louisa Jackson – Craic Founder and CEO
Representatives from One Westminster, Westminster City Council & Libraries, and the comedy industry

Event Details: Craic Events

Comedy as a Tool for Wellbeing

Craic™ is the leader in comedy industry technologies, including Craic Health, the comedy industry and key allied health network for Comedy-on-Prescription. We’re proving that laughter isn’t just entertainment; it’s a powerful, evidence-backed tool for better mental health. Not only can this open up avenues for mental wellness for communities, it also creates opportunities for the comedy industry—currently unrecognised as an artform in the UK—to access much-needed institutional funding.

This roundtable marks a critical step towards embedding comedy into national health policy. The conversation starts here, but the impact will be felt across communities for years to come. Let’s go!

Louisa Jackson

Louisa Jackson is the Founder of Craic™, the leader in comedy industry technologies, including Craic Health, the pioneering Comedy-on-Prescription platform. A digital media and tech innovator, she co-founded VidZone, the world’s first online and mobile music streaming subscription service and app, and the first independent digital music distributor globally, launching multiple industry-firsts in streaming, virtual reality, and interactive content. Now driving a cultural shift in comedy, Louisa’s mission is to make comedy more accessible, inclusive, and impactful - both as entertainment and as a breakthrough tool for mental healthcare.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisajackson/