Laughter is critical to maintaining a healthy mind

Michigan Public | By Stateside Staff

Published September 18, 2017 at 4:00 PM EDT

Laughter is good for you, Dr. Farha Abassi said.

Stateside's conversation with Dr. Farha Abassi, a Michigan State University psychiatrist.

There’s an old adage that laughter is the best medicine. Michigan State University psychiatrist Dr. Farha Abbasi believes there’s some scientific truth to that.

Abbasi joined Stateside to discuss the mental and physical health benefits of laughter. She recommends, especially in fractious political times, that people take breaks from the news to watch a funny video. The issue is personal for Abbasi. As an immigrant, she says, she wouldn't have survived if she weren't able to laugh through the struggles of moving to a new country. Listen to our full conversation with Abbasi above. Minding Michigan is Stateside’s ongoing series that examines mental health issues in our state.

Michigan Radio originally aired this story on April 20, 2017.

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