Dr Simon Opher MP joins comedy panel & adds ‘Comedy-on-Prescription’ to Hansard

January 16, 2025: Dr Simon Opher MP makes history by raising “Comedy-on-Prescription” in Parliament, recorded in Hansard, after participating in a Craic Health trial event.

Laughter as medicine: Comedy’s long-standing role in mental health

For years, the comedy industry has been delivering laughter as a powerful tool for mental well-being, without formal recognition or structured support. Comedy talent, venues, and grassroots initiatives have provided spaces for connection, joy, and relief from stress, proving that comedy is far more than just entertainment. Now, as political momentum builds and early trials reinforce its impact, we are finally seeing an acknowledgment of what the industry has always known: laughter heals.

Craic Health is at the forefront of this shift as the dedicated hub for Comedy-on-Prescription—a term I coined to establish comedy as a recognised format within NHS creative health and social prescribing. In collaboration with Dr Simon Opher MP, the pioneer of social prescribing and now Minister for Stroud, we are working to embed Comedy-on-Prescription within the NHS’s Social Prescribing Model. This model already embraces arts, gardening, and exercise-based interventions, and comedy is a natural and necessary addition.

Through NHS England’s Personalised Care and Social Prescribing initiatives, Link Workers help patients access non-clinical activities that support both mental and physical health. Comedy-on-Prescription could play a crucial role in this framework, offering structured access to the transformative power of laughter.

This is not the beginning of comedy’s role in mental health—it is simply the long-overdue recognition of an industry that has been doing this work for decades. With increasing political support and a growing body of evidence, we are proving that comedy belongs at the heart of social prescribing, not as an afterthought, but as an essential part of public well-being.

Why comedy belongs in social prescribing

Did you know that the effects of laughter can last for up to 24 hours? Laughter reduces cortisol, boosts dopamine, and releases serotonin, endorphins, and beneficial neuropeptides. It creates an immediate, shared emotional response that lowers stress, improves mood, and even provides physiological benefits comparable to a moderate 20-minute workout.

But beyond the biological impact, laughter connects us. It breaks down social barriers, fosters a sense of belonging, and helps combat loneliness—one of the biggest public health challenges of our time. Whether through shared humour in a live audience, a comedy workshop, or simply laughing with others, comedy has the power to bring people together in ways that are both profound and lasting.

Yet, despite the growing recognition of arts-based interventions in healthcare, comedy remains largely absent from NHS policy. This is the gap that Craic Health is working to close. Social prescribing provides non-medical interventions to support mental well-being, and Comedy-on-Prescription offers a dynamic, accessible model that can act as a supplement—or even an alternative—to traditional treatments for those experiencing mild to moderate mental illness.

Through workshops, live performances, and immersive experiences, we are working with social prescribers, communities, and mental health advocates to bring laughter to those who need it most. But this is about more than just making people laugh—it’s about embedding comedy into healthcare through education, research, and collaboration. By building a strong, evidence-based framework, we can ensure that comedy is recognised as a vital and accessible mental health solution.

Real impact: bringing laughter to communities

One of the most powerful moments in this journey so far was our Comedy for Seniors event at St John’s Wood Library, the third in a series of five trials. Bringing together Westminster residents, social prescribers, and a panel of talented comedians, the event showcased how comedy can address loneliness and depression in older adults.

We invited Dr Simon Opher MP onto the comedy panel. He described his enthusiasm for the initiative, saying:

"When Lou came along and was talking about comedy, I thought, this is innovative and something I have to try... Laughing itself is really good for your heart and lungs. When people are laughing, their guards are down, making them more open to new information."

This event also received strong political backing from the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Robert Rigby, who remarked:

“I was impressed by my visit to Craic Health at St John’s Wood library. The Comedy on Prescription show illustrates the fact that comedy is a great way of uniting people, relieving isolation and making us realise what we all have in common – often by laughing at it. It was clear to me older residents valued the show and the social benefits. It was also clear to me that I don’t have a career in stand-up comedy!”.

The science behind laughter and well-being

Laughter is more than entertainment—it has measurable physiological and psychological benefits. Dr Opher likened comedy’s impact to music, highlighting its ability to create shared experiences that help people lower their defences and engage in new ways.

At our Comedy for the Curious panel, comedians shared personal stories about using humour as a coping tool. Attendees participated in interactive exercises designed to spark connection, with 95% reporting a sense of inclusion and 97% expressing interest in future events. These findings reinforce what I’ve always believed—shared laughter is a powerful and accessible tool for mental well-being.

Comedy-on-Prescription is designed to be adaptable—from live gigs and workshops to immersive digital experiences, making it accessible to as many people as possible. The potential applications are vast, and as we continue to develop the model, we are refining how best to integrate it into the healthcare system.

The economic case for comedy in social prescribing

The economic and social costs of mental ill health in England reached £300 billion in 2022. With rising demand for mental health support, the NHS is under increasing strain, and alternative approaches are urgently needed.

Recognising this, NHS England commissioned the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) to assess the impact of social prescribing. Their research, spanning 13 evidence publications, found that:

"Social prescribing schemes can deliver between £2.14 and £8.56 for every £1 invested, by reducing pressure on the NHS."

Why now is the time for Comedy-on-Prescription

With over 8.7 million people in England currently taking antidepressants and more than 2 million struggling to come off SSRIs, NHS guidelines are increasingly encouraging non-medical interventions for mild to moderate depression.

Social prescribing is already an established part of NHS care, but comedy remains a missing piece in this framework. Given its proven ability to reduce stress, combat loneliness, and improve mood, it has the potential to play a significant role in mental well-being strategies.

Scaling impact: integrating comedy into NHS policy

To drive this forward, Dr Simon Opher MP and I are actively working on ways to integrate Comedy-on-Prescription into NHS policy. As part of this, we have a dedicated roundtable discussion scheduled for 13 March, bringing together key stakeholders to explore implementation pathways.

This is a crucial step in ensuring that comedy is not just seen as entertainment but as a recognised, evidence-based tool for health and well-being.

A personal reflection: building systems for lasting change

Systems create change. As James Clear wrote in Atomic Habits:

"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems."

That philosophy is at the heart of Craic Health. We’re not just running comedy events and experiences; we are building the infrastructure to ensure laughter becomes a recognised and embedded part of social prescribing for generations to come.

From the very beginning, I knew comedy had the power to change lives. But witnessing its direct impact—seeing people arrive feeling low and leave feeling uplifted—has only deepened my belief that laughter is one of the most powerful, accessible, and untapped tools for mental health.

Now, we have an opportunity to make lasting change. Whether you are a healthcare provider, policymaker, member of the comedy industry, or a community leader, we invite you to be part of this movement. Let’s go!