Most of us can’t remember the new year coming in by now. It seems like a long time ago and “the ordinary” has kicked back in with a vengeance. But for some the new year festive period may still be casting a long shadow over their lives.
Figures released by Relate (the UK’s largest Counselling Service) indicate just how stressful it has been for some in late December, early January.
20 per cent increase in calls to Relate’s helpline number
66 per cent increase in visits to Relate’s live chat facility, where counsellors give online real time support
32 per cent increase in unique visitors to www.relate.org.uk on the first working day of 2011, Tuesday 4th January 2011
And 15 per cent increase in unique visitors to www.relate.org.uk over the first week in January 2011
Claire Tyler, Chief Executive of Relate, said: “A new year is an obvious time to tackle issues head on and this is what we are seeing here. 2011 will signal a fresh start for many and it’s great that people are seeking support to turn things around.
“We can’t however gloss over the fact that people will have had a very difficult period over Christmas. Spending time with family can be challenging, arguments can explode, couples can row and it can also be an incredibly lonely period for some. Sadly, this is something we see year on year and January 2011 is by no means a random occurrence.”
What does 2011 look like for relationships? Looking ahead to the next year, Relate asked it’s counsellors in a separate poll what they expect to be the top five issues for relationships in 2011. Communication problems, money worries, working long hours, redundancies and affairs came up in the top five in that order.
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