THE NUMBER of families experiencing problems in their relationships or with contact arrangements for children has rocketed since the start of the year, an expert has revealed.
Relationships Scotland Tayside and Fife manager Bill Muir said the service experienced 10 times more referrals than usual in the first two days of 2013.
Around 30 families contacted the organisation in the first 48 hours of the new year, with money at the root of most problems.
Mr Muir said it is the busiest start to a year since the service was established more than 25 years ago.
“Normally we are contacted by two or three new families a day, but after the festive period we received nearly 30 new referrals in the first two days of the year,” he said.
“We are usually met with a busy start to the year after the festive period, but this year our staff have experienced an unprecedented demand.”
Mr Muir says increased tension and demands on parents around Christmas traditionally has a big effect on families who are already struggling.
However, he suspects the difficult economic climate is to blame for the massive increase in families seeking help from his staff.
“People are often put together as families over the festive season, which can often be wrong for them and the children and it can lead to conflicts,” he said.
“But I think the majority of people are coming to us with financial problems. It is one of the biggest issues in relationship problems.
“With children, quite often over the Christmas period there’s more emphasis on where the children are going to spend it, which can lead to heightened tensions.
“It’s a hard, hard time for families.”
The service was created in 1986 with the original remit to assist parents who were separating make arrangements for the parenting of their children.
However, Relationships Scotland has since developed into an all-encompassing support organisation for children, teenagers and adults, providing family mediation, dealing with disputes relating to finance and property as well as children, relationship counselling, children’s counselling and child contact centres.
“Families are complex and dynamic, providing support throughout life, which can include moments of great difficulty and crisis, often happening around Christmas and New Year when people feel pressured into making important life-changing decisions about their future,” Mr Muir said.
“It is at times like these when the services we provide can be of significant help.”
Relationships Scotland can be contacted on 01382 201343 or 01592 751095.
awilson@thecourier.co.uk