... another, humor, laughter, creativity and playfulness exhibit overlap. Proyer’s research has even shown that just reflecting on playful moments can increase happiness and alleviate depression. Research limitations/implications The experiences, perspectives and insight of one person are narrated...

... has been in cultural studies and philosophy, particularly focusing on laughter and humour, during a career spent mostly at Nagoya University in Japan. Design/methodology/approach This case study uses positive autoethnography, a methodology that was co-conceived by Weeks. It includes a 10-question...

... with the mission to empower the gifted who knew how to make our world a better place for all. Oh. Well then. Keep on pedaling? (We need all the laughter we can get!). My passion for psychology fueled earning a bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees and a doctorate in psychology, plus other credentials...

...: an autobiography of Mary Kay Morrison, followed by a ten-question interview. Findings Mary Kay recommends exploration of the benefits of humor and laughter for mental health professionals. In recognition of the need for clarifying terminology, she coined the terms Humergy, which is joyful, optimistic, healthy...

...Madan Kataria; Ros Ben-Moshe; Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky Purpose The purpose of this paper is to meet Dr Madan Kataria, the founder and creator of Laughter Yoga. Design/methodology/approach This case study is presented in two sections: a transcribed autobiography of Madan Kataria, followed...

...Ros Ben-Moshe; Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky Purpose The purpose of this paper is to meet Ros Ben-Moshe, a cancer survivor – or rather thriver – and lecturer in positive psychology at La Trobe University, describes how she uses laughter to boost levity and mental health. Design/methodology/approach...

... Humour Laughter Mental health Art and mental health Creative writing Oldest-old Mental health issues are at an all-time high, having risen substantially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (World Health Organisation, WHO, 2022). As highlighted in a case study on laughter and mental...

...Merv Neal; Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky Purpose The purpose of this paper is to engage with, and elicit insights from, Merv Neal, a laughter professional, on the use of laughter to benefit mental health. Design/methodology/approach This case study is presented in two sections: a biography of Merv...