it's long been said that "laughter is the best medicine" — and it seems that's being taken quite literally. trauma patients are being invited to free comedy sessions to try to boost their wellbeing in a scheme backed by the nhs in bristol this month. the new approach has been developed by health experts and professional comedians to give people a new perspective. earlier i spoke to angie belcher — comedian in residence at bristol university. she has helped to develop the course. just from the live circuit, being a comedian and realising that we have a special place that we can have horrible things happen in our lives and then we can write about them and perform them and it makes us feel better. i realised, wouldn't it be great if everyone had that opportunity to process their trauma, learn how to do it in a comedic way and put it on stage? and has it worked, has the scheme started yet? it's starting next week, i have my first course working with people who have been referred by social prescribers who are people