Name: Comedy.

Age: The term comedy (from the Greek κωμῳδία, or kōmōidía) originated in ancient Greece, where poets would perform political satire in theatres in order to influence voters.

Armando Iannucci, that kind of thing? More like Aristophanes, but yeah, he was the Iannucci of his day. To be fair, people have been trying to make each other laugh since people have been people. Biblical scholars have even found comedy in Genesis. Would you Adam and Eve it?

So why is Pass notes, a topical column in a newspaper, fussed about it now? Because comedy is always changing and finding new ways to express itself – and to be delivered or prescribed.

I think you mean proscribed. This is about cancel culture and freedom of speech, right? No and no. I mean prescribed.

Prescribed by whom? Who normally prescribes things? Doctors, of course.

OK, explanation required, please. Angie Belcher, a comedian in residence at the University of Bristol, has been working with health advisers to develop comedy sessions to help patients recover from trauma.

Laughter is the best medicine. That is the idea. “Comedy is a force for good [that] can change people’s lives,” said Belcher. The course will be delivered through the Bristol-based charity Wellspring Settlement by the professional comedians Charmian Hughes and Jack Campbell. Participants – who might, say, be experiencing gender dysmorphia, depression, anxiety, PTSD or bereavement – will be able to take part in sessions that not only explore their ailments, but also look for the humour in them.

Sounds brilliant. How much? Free! Bristol GPs will be able to prescribe the pilot course on the NHS from this month.

It’s not a new idea, is it, that comedy might be helpful at difficult times? True. Many comedians – including Russell Brand, Sarah Millican, Simon Amstell and Jimmy Carr – have written about mental health in their books. Ruby Wax went a step further: she studied psychotherapy, got a master’s in mindfulness-based cognitive behaviour from Oxford, delivered a Ted Talk and received an OBE for services to mental health.

Jack Dee, too, no? Hmm, kind of. His latest book, What Is Your Problem?, is spoof self-help. He sets himself up as an agony uncle after studying online for four hours at the Ruislip College of Advansed (sic) Learning.

Ha! Yeah, it’s funny; it’ll help.

Do say: “So, anyway, have I told you about the time my dog died?”

Don’t say: Nothing. It’s good to talk.