Relate's Response to Family Tension in Recession

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Richard Sharp

The lead article on front page of The Times Newspaper on Wednesday 12th August 2009 caught my eye - “Recession starts to threaten home life” was the bold heading and it ran

Britain faces a surge in drug addition, alcoholism and domestic violence as the second wave of the recession and rising unemployment take a grip...

The prediction comes from The Audit Commission, an independent public sector watchdog who reports that Britain is still in the first phase of this recession, predominantly economic in nature, but is about to face the second, social phase identified by long-term unemployment, housing, health and domestic problems. It says “With families and individuals under stress, most areas are likely to witness increasing social problems including domestic violence, alcoholism, drug addiction and young people unable to find work.”

Billy Joel’s lyric “They started to fight when the money got tight” is unfortunately evident close to home. Amanda Foyster, General Manager of Relate Mid-Wiltshire recently told me that an increase in domestic violence in parts of Wiltshire had been reported, caused in part by people feeling under enormous economic pressure.

One such source of that pressure, expressed to counsellors at Relate Mid-Wiltshire, is a feeling amongst couples that they are unable to afford to create and move into separate housing following a relationship breakdown. They can’t really afford to do anything but persist in an unhappy situation. They feel trapped and unable to do what they want to get out of it. The frustration that that causes parents generates tension within the family that inevitable impacts all not least the children within it.

In the good financial times, 1 in 5 adult cases handled by Relate Mid-Wiltshire had its roots in financial difficulties. Now that proportion has increased creating considerable stress within families. In response, Relate Mid-Wiltshire is growing the work it does with families and can offer Counselling for Young People, and Family Counselling as well as Relationship Counselling. The Bath Relate Centre also offers Family and Relationship Counselling.

Relate on it's website is currently asking "How is the recession affecting you and your family?" In it's recession questionnaire it says:

During the recession we know that family relationships can be affected differently. Relate would like to hear your family’s experience – is stress causing you to argue more? Are you keeping financial worries from your partner? Alternatively is it bringing you closer as a family?

Relate would like to share these anonymous stories to show how the recession is affecting people’s home life.

As a past Trustee of Relate, I know the valuable work that they do to help families, parents and young people in their family life. With counselling and mediation Relate can support you and your children through these economically difficult times. 

Tags: , , ,