Divorce seen as a major factor towards better mental health

New figures released by law firm Slater and Gordon discovered that three in four people agreed that they felt an improvement to their mental health following divorce.

The research was conducted among 2000 people across the country who have divorced or are in process of divorcing, with a total of 74 per cent feeling happier following the end of their marriage.

The study also revealed the main cause for the end of marriages, by which the main reason cited was extramarital affairs at 38 per cent, followed by falling out of love at 34 per cent and a lack of communication with 31 per cent; all of which can be damaging to mental health.

On reflection, many divorcees also felt they remained in their relationship longer than they should have, prioritising their children and assets at the time.

When finally filing for divorce, more than half of divorcees wish they had started the divorce process earlier than they did. In this time, it had cost divorcees more damage to their mental health with 53 per cent feeling more stress and anxiety, and 30 per cent facing a more toxic divorce.

People were also apprehensive about the cost of living, with almost half of marriages or in a civil partnership believe these financial pressures caused additional stress on their relationship.

However, two in three participants believed that in the context of divorce, happiness outweighs financial implications when separating from their partner. Having a fresh start as a divorcees is shown as being paramount in improving mental health; ultimately half of divorcees could experience more time for themselves and 45 per cent could prioritise their happiness.

Divorce has become far more obtainable for unhappy couples, with the introduction of ‘no fault divorce’ in April 2022. Couples can legally separate without placing blame, allowing for easier divorce proceedings and often the preservation of a cordial relationship going forward.

Jenniffer Brunt, Principal Family Lawyer at Slater and Gordon shared her insights.

“When your marriage is experiencing difficulties, this can in some cases, have a detrimental impact to yours and your partner’s mental health. This in time, can affect other aspects in your life such as family life and relationships, work, hobbies and more.

“Working on issues in the first instance is the obvious course of action, but for many couples, a divorce may also be a step in the right direction for a fresh start. These findings show how going through a divorce, whilst very stressful and upsetting, in the end resulted in a positive impact on mental health.

“With the No Fault Divorce procedure, divorcing on an amicable basis from the outset is far more achievable, allowing for couples who are unable to overcome challenges in their marriage proceed with a divorce, without the necessity of placing blame – ultimately reducing further stress and anxieties.”

At Slater and Gordon, we are committed to supporting our clients throughout the divorce process, providing high quality guidance through every step of the way. For more information, contact Jenniffer Brunt or visit www.slatergordon.uk