Having happy, positive relationships is good for your mental health. This goes for all relationships like those with your parents, family, friends or partner.
When a relationship is going well it can be the best feeling in the world. When it’s not going so well, there are feelings of hurt, sadness, anger, rejection and isolation.
If you find yourself in a relationship that is abusive, be that emotionally, physically or sexually, it’s time to get out. You may be fearful of ending a relationship, afraid that you will be lonely or that you will miss that person.
It is normal to remember all the good times, but don’t forget about the bad times – focus on these and remember the times you felt really bad or afraid – this will help you to leave the relationship. You deserve to be treated well and with respect.
If you’re LGBTQ+, then relationship issues may be more complicated because this may also involve the challenge of coming out to friends and family. At a time when you are learning to understand yourself, this is a real challenge. But remember there are many other people out there just like you. You are not alone.
We all have something to learn when it comes to consent and healthy relationships. To support this, the We-Consent campaign have put together resources for young people about consent and healthy relationships. You can access them here.