Belgians Take Lots of Sick Leave, And Why Not, They're Depressed

[Onkel Neal]

Some, of Course, Are Watching the Soaps; Mr. Vandervelpen Needed a Little TLC

Belgians, like many Europeans, are entitled to extensive or even unlimited sick leave -- and they tend to stretch the definition of the word. One study showed government employees in droves were calling in sick to pack before vacations and to sleep off holiday hangovers. Some government departments were averaging 35 days of paid sick leave per employee each year, more than twice the national rate and seven times the U.S. average.

Wow, that makes my stomach a little... sick

[nikimcbee]

I was going to blame the waffles they eat.

[Christopher Snow]

It's been my understanding that it's actually the Finns who are the most depressed people in the world (quite possibly due to overall lack of sunlight), so I'm a bit surprised to hear this about Belgians.

If true, I suspect it's because they no longer can watch sports cars and F1 cars shimmy to the left (and then right) through the "Masta Kink.*"

[*And if you don't know what the "Masta Kink" was, well then...I can only feel sorry for you]


CS

[A Very Super Market]

I dunno about that, I mean Dowly seems far more cheerful (in his own strange way) than most of my countrymen.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Christopher Snow

It's been my understanding that it's actually the Finns who are the most depressed people in the world (quite possibly due to overall lack of sunlight), so I'm a bit surprised to hear this about Belgians.

If true, I suspect it's because they no longer can watch sports cars and F1 cars shimmy to the left (and then right) through the "Masta Kink.*"

[*And if you don't know what the "Masta Kink" was, well then...I can only feel sorry for you]


CS

Hmm... I'm thinking the Swedes. The Finns are to rugged to be slowed by depression.

If anyone should be depressed, it should be the Canadians. Imagine being so close to being Americans yet so far away....

.

[Christopher Snow]

Haha...I'll forgive you for that last one (because it was so good).

No, seriously: It HAS been my understanding that the Finns suffer particularly from depression (SAD or other) due simply to an overall lack of exposure to sunlight. Particularly during the winter months (in the northern hemisphere).

Alcoholism would have to be the Finns other major hurdle I would think.


I confesss my info might be out of date too.



CS

[SteamWake]

Seems to me I read this same story a few years ago but it was about people living in alaska. High rates of alchohalisim, depression, etc.

Something to do with the long days/nights and 'cabin fever' due to the cold.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Hmm... I'm thinking the Swedes. The Finns are to rugged to be slowed by depression.

If anyone should be depressed, it should be the Canadians. Imagine being so close to being Americans yet so far away....

.

Actually, it's we Finns who are the most depressed. Why? Well... we got wankers as neighbours on bothsides.

EDIT: Ow and dark winters too. You know there's a joke about what I said above; What Norway, Sweden & Russia has that Finns dont have? Good neighbours! WHAHAHAHA!!!

[XabbaRus]

If I was Belgian I'd be depressed...who wouldn't?

[Fish]

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

If I was Belgian I'd be depressed...who wouldn't?

You followed there political struggles last months?

[AntEater]

Belgium itself is a reason to be depressed.

History (rest of the Netherlands heroically stands up against the spanish, Belgium prefers spanish inquisition over freedom), internal division between flemish and walloons, colonial history in the Kongo, the ugliest cities on this side of the english channel (except downtown Antwerp maybe), sex scandals...
On the other hand, they really have quite good beer.

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by Christopher Snow

It's been my understanding that it's actually the Finns who are the most depressed people in the world (quite possibly due to overall lack of sunlight), so I'm a bit surprised to hear this about Belgians.

If true, I suspect it's because they no longer can watch sports cars and F1 cars shimmy to the left (and then right) through the "Masta Kink.*"

[*And if you don't know what the "Masta Kink" was, well then...I can only feel sorry for you]


CS

You are, I think right about the lack of sunlight as it affects Melatonin levels known as the "the hormone of darkness".

[AntEater]

Also, in the radio play version of Douglas Adam's "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy",
"Belgium" was the worst swear word known in the whole Universe.
Only Zaphod Beeblebrox dared to utter it regularly.

[clive bradbury]

Not definitive, of course, but nevertheless an interesting guide as to which countries are the most depressed:

http://fathersforlife.org/health/who_suicide_rates.htm

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Christopher Snow

Haha...I'll forgive you for that last one (because it was so good).

Two points to you for recognizing a lame joke