Sigmund Freud described humour as a 'mature' defense mechanism, offering a way to transform the intolerable into the bearable. Yet, in the challenging landscape of psychiatry—with its deep-seated human suffering, chronic underfunding, and staffing shortages—does laughter have a place? In this dynamic and insightful session, four speakers show how finding light amongst the darkness can be essential for the NHS workforce, which often relies on gallows humour. Along with strong tea.
Through a blend of book extracts, research insights, and tasteful humour, this session will build a compelling scientific case for comedy as a tool to foster resilience, reduce burnout, and promote sensitive public health messages to broader audiences.
Learning objectives
In this session you will explore:
- Therapeutic benefits: Understand the psychological mechanisms through which gallows humour can serve as an effective coping strategy for reducing stress and burnout among psychiatrists
- Humour in patient care: Learn how to employ humour judiciously in therapeutic contexts to improve the doctor-patient relationship, engagement and outcomes
- Educational strategies: Discover innovative ways to incorporate humour into medical teaching to enhance learning with patients, medical students and more broadly to the general public.
Speakers
Chair: Dr Sohom Das, Sigma Delta Psychiatry Expertise, London
Mr Dieter Declercq, University of Glasgow, Glasgow
Dame Clare Gerada, Patron of Doctors in Distress GP, London
Dr Benji Waterhouse, Camden and Islington NHS Mental Health Trust, London
Availability
This webinar is part of the Congress webinar 2025 package. If you attended all four days of Congress, you will have access to these as part of your Congress package. Otherwise the Congress webinar 2025 package can be purchased below.
