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One-in-5 relationships in Britain at breaking point: counselling agency

Xinhua, May 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

Britain's leading relationship counselling agency revealed Wednesday that almost one-in-five couples across the country, affecting almost 3 million men and women, are in distressed relationships.

Many say they have regularly considered separation or divorce, and that they quarrel, felt unhappy together or regretted being in a relationship.

Research by Relate also highlighted families with children under-16 as the group most likely to be affected by relationship distress, with 22 percent of parents, making up 1.4 million families, of under-16s reporting a severe level of relationship distress.

"We're concerned that these poor quality relationships are pushing couples, especially families, to breaking point," said Relate.

"Many families are struggling to access the support they need. While counselling can help people find a way out of relationship crisis the cost is stopping families from getting the help they need," said Relate.

The snapshot of marital disharmony across Britain was revealed in a new report, Relationship Distress Monitor, by Dr Isaac Sserwanja, assistant lecturer in economics at the University of Kent and David Marjoribanks, senior policy and research officer at Relate.

They highlight that 18 percent of couples who are either married or living together are in distressed relationships.

The analysis is based on a large-scale database following the lives of people in more than 20,000 homes. It shows clear links between relationship distress and depression, anxiety, increased blood pressure and a heightened risk of heart attacks.

Relate's new report urges policy makers to heed their disquieting evidence and take action.

The two experts say in their report the most recent data from the government's Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that, on a scale of 0-10, the average satisfaction with family life is 8.2.

"However, we also know that many people do not enjoy the good quality relationships which are so central to the good health and wellbeing of adults and children. For example, across England and Wales, 42 percent of marriages lead to divorce," they add.

Arabella Russell, an experience counsellor with Relate said: "Often the couples I see are arguing constantly with pressures such as jobs, finances and childcare putting their relationships under real strain. The impact this can have on the family is huge. Counselling can help couples to reconnect but the cost can be a deterrent to some."

Relate has launched a Breaking Point appeal to raise funds to help subsidise vital services to support families whose relationships and finances are under intense pressure.

Relate CEO Chris Sherwood said: "Families can't go on like this. We need to make sure that Relate's services are available to everyone, not just those who can afford them, but we cannot do so unless we get donations to subsidise the cost." Endit