Relate Press Releases
AUG 30 2011 / Relate urges people to get help sooner for their relationships
Relationship charity, Relate, is urging people to get help sooner for their relationships after findings released today reveal that 44% of people, who called the charity’s helpline, had waited over two years to get help.1
In a further survey Relate found that:
• 34% of people surveyed believe there is a stigma attached to getting help with your relationship.2
• And 39% of people surveyed would feel ashamed or nervous of admitting to friends or family that they had sought expert counselling.3
The charity has launched a campaign, Heart to Heart, backed by some of the nation’s leading agony aunts and uncles, to encourage people to get help for their relationship sooner rather than later, if things aren’t going right.
Relate knows that couples have their ups and downs, but believe it’s crucial that people recognise when problems are serious and not just a difficult patch. The charity is encouraging people to start thinking about their relationship, talking to each other and taking action if they see signs of problems.
Relate recognises that whilst many of us wouldn’t hesitate to seek help for a medical problem, we often hold back when it comes to getting support for our relationships because of the stigma surrounding relationship support. But relationships are precious and worth working at.
Paula Hall, counsellor with Relate, commented: “Seeking counselling does not mean you’re a failure, on the contrary, it shows you take your relationship seriously and you’re willing to do whatever you can to resolve your difficulties. Some people see going for counselling as a sign of weakness but in reality it takes strength and courage to stand up to others prejudiced views and get the help your relationship deserves.”
Author Roopa Farooki and her husband didn’t hesitate to seek help through counselling. She says, “When we had problems, we sought help straight away. Relationships need to be nurtured in order to thrive. We've been together for seventeen years now and we still have to work hard at our relationship, but we reap the rewards every day.”
To help couples understand how healthy their relationships are, the charity has developed an online health check. Couples will also find an online video offering five simple top tips to keep relationships healthy.
The Heart to Heart campaign is backed by many of the nation’s Agony Aunts and Uncles including Bel Mooney, Philip Hodson, Jane O’Gorman and Susan Quilliam.
Agony AuntTracey Cox, says: “If you work things through together, it removes all the finger-pointing, guilt and blame that can cause a small problem to escalate quickly into a massive one. And the quicker you seek help, the less damage caused to the relationship and the easier it is to solve.”
[ends]
Contact Head of Marketing and PR, Kim Atkins on: 020 7554 2892 / kim.atkins@relate.org.uk or for out of hours enquiries - 07971 869 735
Notes to editors:
Roopa Farooki is willing to be interviewed.
Relate counsellors are available for comments.
Case studies are available.
1A survey of 257 participants who called Relate’s national number 0300 100 1234
(from June – July 2011)
2 & 3 Fieldwork was conducted by Vision Critical on behalf of Relate in July 2011. 1,505 British adults aged 18+ were surveyed. All were in a relationship for 3 years+, with children (of any age). There was a broad spread of age, gender, region and social grade. Quoted figures are unweighted.
• Relate’s vision is a future in which healthy relationships form the heart of a thriving society
• Relate’s services extend beyond couple counselling to family counselling, counselling for young people, online counselling, sex therapy and informal workshops
• Relate works in schools, primary care settings, prisons, and Children’s Centres
• Relate supports 150,000 people each year in over 600 locations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Relate has a work-force of 2,000 people nationwide
• For more information and advice visit: www.relate.org.uk