Dr Carolyn Schwartz of the University of Massachusetts Medical School has been going to church and not for the reasons that most people do. She was interested in how helping and caring for others affects our own physical and psychological wellbeing.

Her results, published in Psychosomatic Medicine, point to significant benefits to being a caring, sharing type of person. The message is that, for your own wellbeing, it pays of to help but don't get carried away with it. Whilst giving help to others improves your mental health, it only does so at levels that you are able to cope with. Giving until it hurts can cause individuals to be overwhelmed by the troubles of the world and experience mental health issues of their own.

So why is it so good to help others? The research speculates that it helps us keep perspective on our own problems and prevents us focusing too much on our own weaknesses and troubles.

Read more here.