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Laugh yourself silly a grant from the FUNdation

How many times today have you laughed? Can you remember why you laughed and how long you laughed for?

Perhaps you’ll be surprised to recall that you laughed at all, but regardless of how many times you smiled or tittered, it’s unlikely to have been enough. New research says that we laugh on average only 7.2 times a day, nowhere near the 15 times a day which psychologists say is the right number to maintain a positive frame of mind.

Whether a funny movie or a jokey colleague, we all need more of the things in life which make us laugh. But rather than wait for somebody to come along to entertain us, we need to get out there and create some laughs ourselves.

That’s the view of Jackpotjoy.com, the entertainment website which is running a nationwide campaign to cheer Britain up and get people laughing again.

Over the autumn, Jackpotjoy, the popular online bingo site will continue to roll out its TV ad campaign, which features a variety of hilarious scenarios. The first advert, which launched last month, features Queen of Bingo Barbara Windsor as race marshal in a F1-style race between two pensioners on mobility scooters.

The most recent advert, meanwhile, features a baffled cellist who struggles to make his music heard over the sounds of another musician playing plastic toys arranged in the shape of a xylophone.

The TV adverts, linked through the slogan – Just for the Jackpotjoy of it - provide inspiration for the sorts of stunts and silliness which Jackpotjoy hopes the public will engage in.

To motivate the masses, the gaming company has also set up a £250,000 fund – the Jackpotjoy FUNdation – which people can apply to for a laughter grant.

Post a picture of yourself or your friend engaged in some silly business on Jackpotjoy’s Facebook or Twitter pages and you could find yourself laughing all the way to the bank.

Laughter is a key ingredient in a happy and balanced life and has long been recognised as a stalwart against depression, anxiety or general unhappiness. Psychologist Anjula Mutanda, an expert in mental health, believes that “Laughter is an essential behaviour of a happy, joyful person and brings a wealth of benefits. We should be laughing a lot more than we are.”

According to doctors, laughter can also positively impact the physical body, as lots of laughs can boost the immune system, helping to ward off colds and flues.

The Jackpotjoy campaign urges people not to worry about making a fool out of themselves or to care too much about what other people think. Part of the reason that we’re all so miserable is that we have become too serious and need to lighten up. You don’t always need a good reason to break into laughter or to behave in a silly, childish manner. You can do something funny, Just for the Jackpotjoy of It.