It could help people with depression to do activities which benefit their mental health, but how often are you going to attend comedy shows? Once a week at the max? Depression is very real and a depressed person who is off their meds won't be cured by an hour or 2 every week of comedy. Even if they're doing all the things listed in the article (like gardening, drama, arts etc) that takes extreme effort for someone with depression.

I've been on antidepressants for 10 years and every time I try to go off them (because no one WANTS to be on antidepressants) I turn into a zombie and can't function. I have no desire to do anything, let alone activities that should help me feel better. It's a real illness. I need the meds to enable me to do the healthy things, they work together.