Health benefits of laughter as scheme trials 'comedy-on-prescription'
This winter has felt pretty long. The colder weather, shorter days and less natural daylight, have contributed to many of us feeling a little low. But there could be a simple cure - laughter.
Trials are currently taking place to see if "comedy-on-prescription" can help improve people's mental health, reduce NHS costs and offer alternatives to antidepressants.
Craic Health has secured grant funding for its social prescribing scheme which uses comedy-based interventions, such as stand-up shows and workshops, to help people who are lonely, isolated and vulnerable get involved in community events.
The tech company said it is looking at whether this laughter-based approach can help reduce England's mental ill health costs.
NHS figures show 8.7 million people in England took antidepressants in 2023/24, an increase of 2.1% compared to 2022/23, but National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidelines note antidepressants should not be routinely offered as the first treatment for less severe depression unless it is the person's preference.
Craic founder Lu Jackson said comedy-on-prescription could help reduce the costs linked to mental health issues in the country, explaining there can be immediate and longer-lasting health benefits connected to comedy. "It's a cortisol decreaser, dopamine producer, potent releaser of serotonin, endorphins and good neuropeptides," she told PA.
"Going to one comedy workshop or going to one stand-up comedy event or having a comedian come in and teach kids how to improvise and giggle at themselves, it's got an effect for 24 hours and surely that's better than prescribing antidepressants."
It isn't the first time laughter has been recommended as a treatment for low mood, with experts at United Mind, previously suggesting it can help improve mental wellbeing. "Laughing for 10 minutes a day, especially during the winter, can have several positive effects on your physical and mental wellbeing," a spokesperson for the laughter yoga workshop previously told Yahoo Life UK.
According to United Mind, you don't even need a reason to start laughing. By laughing intentionally, the organisation says you will release endorphins, unleash your inhibitions, and encourage positive thinking, alongside other physical and mental health benefits.
1. Stress reduction
When you laugh, it triggers a release of endorphins, which are natural mood-lifters and can help to reduce your cortisol levels (the stress hormone).
One study from 2021 determined that laughter therapy can lessen pro-stress factors and "mood-elevating anti-stress factors to reduce anxiety and depression".
2. Boosts your immune system
Studies have shown that something as simple as laughing can help to boost your immune system and ward off viruses such as the flu.
One study even found that laughing can boost the average pulse rate from 60 to 120 beats per minute, along with supplying the body's cardiovascular system with oxygen it needs.
Study author Dr William Fry said: "There's no doubt that mirthful laughter stimulates the quantity of T cells, and also their vitality."
T cells are a type of white blood cell that helps your immune system to stave off germs and viruses.
3. Mood enhancement
A study from 2016 determined that laughter could be a "noninvasive and non-pharmacological alternative treatment for stress and depression" as it can release endorphins and reverse the stress response.
4. Pain management
One study from 2019 found that chronic pain sufferers who were shown a comedy video saw their pain levels reduced due to the laughter they experienced while watching it.
5. Social bonding
"Laughing with friends and family can strengthen social connections, reducing feelings of isolation or loneliness that can be more pronounced during the winter months," United Mind says.
6. Cardiovascular benefits
Along with its mental health benefits, laughing often could provide some physical benefits too. One study from 2016 of older Japanese adults found that the prevalence of heart disease was 1.21 times higher in people who never laughed than those who laughed every day.
Read more about mental health:
Creatine could ease symptoms of depression, new research finds (Women's Health, 3-min read)
Ben Fogle reflects on how loss of stillborn son led to his 'mental health storm' (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
What is endogenous depression, as Denise Welch reveals tell-tale signs (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
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