All relationships hit hard times at some stage and without support they can easily become distressed or break down with devastating consequences for everyone, particularly children.

Relationship counselling has been shown to improve relationship quality and satisfaction, provide conflict resolution skills, as well as supporting mental wellbeing. 

Couple and family relationships are vital for adults’ health and wellbeing, as well as children’s long-term life chances.

Adults in poor-quality and distressed relationships are much more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental health problems, and from poor physical health.

There is also clear evidence that poor-quality parental relationships and inter-parental conflict in particular have a negative impact on children's mental health and long-term life chances across many areas.

Almost three million adults in the UK are in what would be classified as a “distressed” relationship.

Without the right support available the consequences can be devastating to families and have wider negative impacts particularly on our poorer communities.

Critical support

We have been working with Relate for a number of years to campaign for this critical support.

We published a joint report exploring the impact of financial pressures on relationships and the issue of cost as a barrier to counselling.

Our General Election manifesto calls on the next UK Government to ensure that relationship counselling is accessible to anyone who needs it, regardless of income.

A government-backed evaluation of UK relationship support found that for every £1 invested the state could see £11.40 of savings. 

This would help offset the £51 billion that relationship breakdown costs the UK taxpayer every year.