Mental Health and Relationships

Relationships are a fundamental part of our lives. Whether it’s with a family member, a friend, a co-worker or your life partner, relationships are what connect us to others and give our lives meaning and purpose. Relationships are also important for our mental health and well-being. Studies have shown that people in healthy relationships experience fewer depressive symptoms than those who are single, widowed, divorced or separated, or in lower-quality marriages.

Relationships come in many shapes and sizes, from the friendship you develop with your four-year-old playmate to the romantic relationship you build with your spouse. Regardless of the type or duration, all relationships require trust and respect to thrive.

Romantic relationships allow you to open your heart and your mind to someone else, and can be a great way to learn about yourself. These types of relationships can also be challenging to maintain and often involve learning to understand each other’s differences, especially when it comes to values.

Healthy relationships are balanced, with each person giving and taking in equal measure. This balance can be tricky to achieve, and is often impacted by outside influences. For example, it’s easy to let work relationships impact your personal relationship, or vice versa. However, if one of you is doing more “taking” than the other, it may be time to talk about it and find ways to improve your balance. This can help to avoid the resentment and negativity that often occurs in unhealthy relationships.