Are Brits a miserable bunch?

The British are not exactly famous for their jolly disposition, but a new report puts a grim face on the nation's mood.

The survey found a quarter of the population fear a "hopeless future", one in three feels "downright miserable", and one in ten thinks he or she would be better off dead.

Are Brits really that miserable? Is it the lousy weather or maybe pitiful public transport that sends people into the doldrums? Tell us what you think. This Talking Point is now closed. A selection of your e-mails are posted below.

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They mistakenly believe that a dark outlook is somehow a sign of a great mind

Thomas, Canada

Brits are by and large pretty depressive people. The weather definitely plays a part but I think they mistakenly believe that a dark outlook is somehow a sign of a great mind. Someone who is upbeat is considered in Britain to be intellectually lightweight. Clinton certainly noticed that whilst in Oxford on the Rhodes scholarship.
Thomas, Canada

The generally miserable British attitude is summed up I think by the traditional response to the question "How are you?" "Not too bad" - the nation seems to be afflicted by a real 'glass half empty' syndrome.
NK, UK

I've never been to Britain (yet) but have always longed to go. Weather should be no excuse...hey I'm from Canada and trust me...rainy weather doesn't keep you locked in like blizzards!!
The old saying "may you live in interesting times"...well first, there's never been a time that wasn't interesting but from keeping an eye on the BBC website for a long time I would think that the British people are living in very rapidly changing times and need to rise to the occasion.
David, Canada

£3.70 minimum wage, crime ridden estates, luxury goods advertised all the time, one vote every 5 years.
S Ashfield, UK

Most third world inhabitants would be disgusted to hear this moaning

Mark, UK

Good grief, quit your moaning! Why is it, do you suppose, that so many people from other countries DESPERATELY want to move to Britain? Because, in actuality, the UK is a good place to be!
As for us being a nation of miserable old gits...what about our WORLD-RENOWNED sense of humour? The British have always been able to laugh about misfortune; however, certain people who have written in obviously would rather just feel sorry for themselves and curse their country, not realising how HUGELY lucky they are just to be living here in the first place: Most third world inhabitants would be disgusted to hear this moaning.
Mark, UK

Is it any surprise when the government takes over 40% of my wages (VAT, income tax etc.), and provides a level of health service that rivals most 3rd world countries? Look at the state of our country - we are told what not to think, what not to eat, what not to do - and we spend so much time working all the hours God sends just to earn enough to get by. Maybe these scroungers on the dole who get the state to pay for their kids have the right idea.
Alan Ashcroft, UK

Britain isn't miserable, all the people that reckon this country is should go clubbing in London or Southampton or Bournemouth. There are people of varied ages really enjoying life in our night clubs and when it's the week again they talk and laugh about how there weekend went.
I really think Britain is no more miserable than other EU countries....well with the exception of the Germans, Germany is really miserable....
Will Dawe, England

The British are never happier than when having a good moan about the weather

Roy McBoyd, Scotland

What a bunch of whingers! The British are never happier than when having a good moan about the weather (too wet, too hot, too cold...). Travel is easier than ever - we've got no excuse to stay here if we hate it so much! (And of course it's always the fault of the Germans...)
Roy McBoyd, Scotland

Well not surprising really when MOST people trudge to work on archaic transport systems, are bullied, unappreciated and under huge pressure at work, petrol five pounds a gallon, Ridiculously priced housing especially in London and of course the dreadful climate. Who wouldn't be unhappy??
People are not stupid. Question is will this survey actually start to change things??...I somehow doubt it.
Andrew Watson, Great Britain

Long live cynicism and pessimism, I have lived by them both throughout my life and they have made me a much happier person for it. Hurray.
Al Gunn, UK

In Britain at the moment there just seems to be so much latent aggression. That, coupled with the bad manners and the "me" society can make something like going to the Post Office or supermarket quite arduous.
I still think the sixties and the feminist movement nudged many things in the wrong direction. At least in France they haven't been touched too badly by the disease of political correctness.
G. Cameron, France

Brits have a great sense of humour, are very helpful and very good to be with

Torben Grubbe, Denmark

I am sorry, but I have to disagree, Brits are not a miserable bunch. I lived in England from 1989 to 1998 and during that period I became friends with a lot of lovely and optimistic Brits, of course you will find sad people everywhere. I very much enjoy my semi-annual trips to visit old friends in England; we always have a great time.
Surveys do not always give you the correct answer; if you seek the miserable you will find it. My overall experience and opinion is that Brits have a great sense of humour, are very helpful and very good to be with.
Torben Grubbe, Denmark

With our expectations set by political spin and tabloid extremism, no wonder we feel permanently disappointed!!!
Susan, UK

Yet again another 'debate' on whether Brits are miserable or not... Miserable?! All we do is complain at whether or not we are miserable or not. I'm sick of it. I don't think we are...
Allaster Finke, UK

The misery is due purely and simply to the weather, which is why we once yearned for an empire on which the sun never set. The empire's gone. The misery is back.
Graham Bell, Brazil

You can't blame the weather for the miserableness of the Brits. I met the meanest, rudest, moaning Brit ex-pats in Melbourne, Australia where both the weather and opportunities to lead an interesting life are fantastic. It must be a genetic trait.
Eilbeck, UK

It's all just related to expectation

Peter Turner, France

We are miserable because we constantly look to the wrong things to make us happy. The media imbues in us a sense that a degenerate life is the answer to our problems. Those of us who strive to live such a life find themselves disappointed, while more moderate people are left to feel that they've somehow missed out.
I know because I'm pretty damned miserable myself. Having said that, I'm not sure that the French, Americans (or indeed any other Westerners) are much better. It's all just related to expectation.
Peter Turner, France (from UK)

I find the figures terribly sad, but not all that surprising. It seems that governments spend so much time undoing what the other has done before embarking on their policies, and the result is pretty stagnant.
The UK is so expensive to live in now, and completely out of wack with the rest of Europe. They too have their problems, but over all, appear to be much happier.
Chris ex-UK, Germany

The people taking part in the survey were logging on to a counselling website, i.e. they are already depressed. The many cheerful people in this country (myself included) are unlikely to go anywhere near a counselling website and so therefore the survey does not represent a cross section of society. This kind of 'media-science' just gets me so angry and downright miserable...
R. Dasiel, Britain

I stayed four years in the UK and I suspect that the typical unhealthy, fatty diet makes many British unfit and unhappy with their looks. Skip the fat, the daily pint and do some work-out instead.
Bjorn Hjerto, Norway

When visiting England the first thing I notice is how miserable everyone looks!

Gaynor Bowman, Puerto Rico

I have been living overseas for the past three years. When visiting England the first thing I notice is how miserable everyone looks! It's always a good idea to blame the weather. Puerto Ricans use "the heat" to excuse their hot temperaments and bad behaviour! Brits would do better to appreciate what is good about England rather than dwelling on the bad. It takes living overseas to appreciate the history and uniqueness of England.
Gaynor Bowman, Puerto Rico

I can't believe I've got another 30 years of this life!

Scott, UK

I'm not surprised with the findings. I'm a software developer and I work long hours, often with unpaid overtime, for (comparatively) low pay in a high-stress environment. I can't believe I've got another 30 years of this life! Now if I'm feeling low, what about those on less well-paid jobs?
Scott, UK

British people are not miserable! They are very friendly and supporting. If talking about misery it would be better to use expression "reserved" to define Northern Europe's mentality in general and "extraverted" to describe the Southern one.
This is definitely nothing to do with being "miserable". Those who would call Northern Europe miserable are having much worse problems themselves like for instance the high rate of impotence in Southern Europe and exceedingly high violence.
Helena, UK/ from Estonia

I'm fed up with the way 80% of the population read rubbish tabloids that push racist, homophobic, anti-foreigner views. And that Labour are too spineless to do anything revolutionary, and that the Tories keep jumping on every populist bandwagon no matter how lowest-common-denominator. It makes me sick and I want to move to Holland. The weather is colder there but at least they've got the important things right.
Phil George, UK

The Hungarians are undoubtedly the most miserable people in Europe

Nic Thomas, Hungary

I have just moved from London to Budapest, and I can tell you that relatively speaking the British are an extremely lively bunch. I was fed up with living in London, but moving away makes you appreciate what a great country (the UK) we all live in. The Hungarians are undoubtedly the most miserable people in Europe.
Nic Thomas, Hungary

I am a British expat working in the Middle East. I get to meet a lot of other nationals and I must admit that the Brits are a miserable lot, especially at home in the UK. It seems that we have lost the art of enjoyment and chit-chat. Perhaps it's the weather or the environment. People do not want to take the time to say hello or simply smile. Everyone seems to be obsessed with their own needs.
Hamad, Saudi Arabi

This is partly due to our history. In the past we have seen centuries of expansion and success, now we seem to be in a rut where our influence and culture are being continually eroded. No one has a vision of success, only a vision of dependence on others.
John W, Holland

Notice how much happier everyone is when the sun is shining

Arun Rattan, Belgium

Yes it is true and in part it is due to our climate. Notice how much happier everyone is when the sun is shining. However people in countries with similar climates (such as the Nordics or near Continent) still seem happier. Anyone know why? I'd love to know.
Arun Rattan, Belgium

I have spent the last year in an impoverished third world country where there is no free health or education. In addition, the police, military and politicians are some of the most corrupt in the world and anyone with dollars makes the rules. Death is permanently in the neighbourhood, however, in spite of their hopeless lives, the people maintain a cheerful disposition and take every opportunity to laugh at their misfortune.
Compared to this affluent, yet miserable, nation it was paradise and once I have got enough cash together I am out of here never to return.
James Whitwell, UK

A still rigid class system and prejudice on the basis of regional accents and a dismal state education system means that the British have a glass ceiling on potential achievement which removes the will to strive.
People from foreign backgrounds have a "can do" attitude largely because they feel they can change things by doing. The British are steeped in the immovability of their social structure, they have no hope.
HH, England

It is a mood which is noticeable to all who come into the country. For me, I have finished university and now get to experience the world of grumbling, though I am guilty of this myself.
So many prices are high in this country compared to others, the weather is usually quite poor, and there is never any good news to be heard.
I think we need to start seeing some progress towards creating a happy British Culture - because at the moment I'm not really that proud to be from here.
Stephen Calcott, UK

I think a ministry for encouragement should be set up

John Brownlee, England

I suspect that those who are miserable are in that condition because they are trapped in a situation and can see no way out. The state claims it can provide the answers but fails to deliver and people are discouraged from seeking their own answers.
Not all, however, are miserable and we should be thankful for that: fact is I think a ministry for encouragement should be set up and an end put to all those interfering busy body government agencies who believe it necessary to fence our ambitions and hopes into ever smaller cages.
John Brownlee, England

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