Participants in the project also experienced a greater sense of belonging and connectedness as well as an increased feeling of being valued – both of which are incredibly important to our wellbeing and overall happiness.

Interestingly, the study also found that the personal fulfilment people got from giving to others was often the participants’ primary motive to get involved, rather than the prospect of receiving a card or letter from someone else.

This suggests that simply giving to others – either through a card or some other random act of kindness – could help people struggling with feelings of loneliness or low mood to feel more connected to the community around them.

Mental health: a new study has revealed a surprisingly simple way to improve your wellbeing