News & Features

All things Craic, Creative Health and Comedy-on-Prescription

MEDIA

  • The Independent UK

    ‘NO-BRAINER’ TO FUND COMEDY-ON-PRESCRIPTION TO AID MENTAL HEALTH, MPs HEAR
    by Richard Wheeler

    Trials have taken place in London as supporters of the project seek to use an alternative to antidepressants to help people with mild symptoms.

  • Metro Newspaper

    YOU’RE HAVING A LAUGH
    by Katie Boyden

    8.7Million of us are on anti-depressants – could comedy on the NHS help? People on antidepressants could be given ‘comedy-on-prescription’ instead.

  • The Times

    WHY PRESCRIBING STAND-UP COMEDY MIGHT BEAT TAKING ANTIDEPRESSANTS
    by Eleanor Hayward

    Trial tests whether patients struggling with depression and social isolation might benefit more from laughter than medication.

  • GB NEWS

    BRITAIN’S NEWSROOM - THU, 20 FEB 2025
    with Andrew Pierce and Bev Turner

    Craic Fouder Louisa Jackson and Comedian Producer Jojo Sutherlad are live interviewed by GB News (Watch from 01:46:00).

  • The Independent UK

    COMEDY TRIALLED AS TREATMENT OPTION TO REDUCE NHS COSTS
    by Richard Wheeler

    Comedy is being trialled as a potential treatment for mental health issues in a groundbreaking new scheme.

  • LBC: NICK FERRARI

    LIVE AUDIO INTERVIEW
    with Nick Ferrari

    LBC’s Nick Ferrari interviews Louisa Jackson, Founder of Craic regarding Comedy-on-Prescription (Listen from 01:52:00).

  • The Telegraph

    NHS MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS PRESCRIBED COMEDY SHOWS
    by Joe Pinkstone

    A tech company will run the trial which will include tickets to stand-up shows and improv workshops in a bid to reduce costs to the state.

  • ITV

    CAN YOU PRESCRIBE LAUGHTER?
    by Richard Wheeler

    A laugh may brighten a room and improve the mood of everyone in it, but can you prescribe a smile? A new NHS trial is putting that to the test.

  • CHORTLE

    COULD YOU GET COMEDY ON PRESCRIPTION?
    by Steve Bennett

    New trial scheme to improve people's health: They say laughter is the best medicine… now patients are set to get comedy gigs on prescription.

  • Sky News UK

    COMEDY-ON-PRESCRIPTION TRIALS UNDER WAY
    by Sky News Reporter

    The project has the support of Labour MP Dr Simon Opher, who has previously warned of "the pandemic of over-prescription".

  • Men's Health

    CAN YOU PRESCRIBE LAUGHTER? THE NHS IS GIVING IT A GO
    by Andrew Tracey

    Have you heard the one about the NHS trialling a prescription for laughter? Oh, this one isn't joke, turns out.

  • The Independent UK

    WHY LAUGHTER IS GOOD FOR YOU
    by Camilla Foster

    From reducing stress to enhancing social connections, the health benefits of laughter are backed by science.

  • Daily Mail UK

    IS LAUGHTER THE BEST MEDICINE?
    by Daily Mail Reporter

    Comedy shows could be prescribed for people on antidepressants to curb NHS costs. NICE guidelines note antidepressants should not be routinely offered as the first treatment for less severe depression.

  • Daily Star Newspaper

    LAUGHTER’S A MEDICINE
    by Richard Wheeler

    ‘Comedy-on-prescription’ trials under way in bid to improve mental health. Grant funding has been secured for the social prescribing scheme in the Westminster area of London.

  • ARD Germany

    LACHEN AUF REZEPT – WARUM IN GB SPASS VERSCHRIEBEN WIRD
    by Franziska Hoppen

    German interview: Comedy-on-Prescription: why fun is prescribed in the UK.

  • LBC

    COMEDY-ON-PRESCRIPTION TRIALS
    by Alice Padgett

    Trials are taking place to see if 'comedy on prescription' can help improve people's mental health, as nine million Brits are on antidepressants.

  • Western Daily Press

    TRIAL FOR COMEDY ‘ON PRESCRIPTION’
    by Richard Wheeler

    Technology firm Craic Health said it is looking at whether its “comedy-on-prescription” approach can help reduce England’s mental ill health costs in line with other social prescribing schemes.

  • Manchester Evening News

    IS LAUGHTER THE BEST MEDICINE?
    by Richard Wheeler

    Trials are taking place to see if 'comedy-on-prescription' can help improve people's mental health, reduce NHS costs, and offer alternatives to antidepressants.

NEWS ARTICLES

CHANNEL 5: Interview experts and children craic’g jokes at The UK Kids’ Comedy Festival 2025.

“They say that laughter is the best medicine... but now Comedy-on-Prescription trials are taking place to see if that's actually true! A comedy prescription could soon be a reality if you're struggling with your mental health and it might reduce NHS costs and a reliance on antidepressants.” (Link).