Volunteering is good for you, according to a new study. A research paper in the journal BMC Public Health says doing good deeds for others improves your mental health and increases your longevity. Researchers reviewed 40 academic papers into the effects of volunteerism on our health. They found that volunteers had lower rates of depression, an increased feeling of well-being, and a 22 per cent reduction in the chances of dying in the next seven years. Australians volunteer most, with an estimated 36 per cent of the population lending a hand.

Researcher Dr Suzanne Richards said her systematic review showed that volunteering is linked to improvements in mental health. She said more work was needed to see if volunteering actually does this. She said she wasn't sure if biological, cultural and social factors that create better health and survival also make people want to volunteer in the first place. A separate study from the University of Michigan gave three reasons why volunteering helps us. First, it involves physical activity; second, the social connections help to reduce our stress; and third, it makes us very happy.