Healthy relationships
What is a healthy relationship?
When you are happy to see someone and happy to spend time with them, this is a healthy relationship. You could be seeing the other person as a friend or as a romantic partner, they could be a member of your family, friends, or work mates.
A healthy relationship is when two people:
- trust each other
- are equal
- can talk openly
A healthy relationship should include:
- communication
- compromise
- commitment
Complete the Hideout quiz to see if your relationship is healthy.
Are you worried about your relationship?
No relationship is ever perfect. You'll definitely have moments when you disagree. This is normal. Being able to tell the difference between healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationships can be difficult. Everyone should always feel safe to have their own opinion, even when this means they disagree. If your partner dismisses your viewpoint or treats it with contempt, or other rudeness, this often suggests they don’t respect you or your ideas.
Warning signs
Does your friend or partner:
- play mind games with you and make you doubt your judgment?
- control your money?
- pressure you to have sex when you don’t want to?
- make you feel you are walking on eggshells to avoid making them angry?
- watch or track your movements or messages?
- use anger and intimidation to frighten and control you?
- get jealous and possessive?
- be nice one minute and abusive the next?
- tell you what to wear, where to go, who you can see?
- always put you down?
If you recognise any of this behaviour in your relationship it’s time to get help. Speak to a trusted adult such as a family member or a teacher.
Are you afraid of disagreeing with your partner?
Are afraid of speaking your mind and giving your own opinion because you worry about your partner's reaction? Do you feel like you’re “walking on eggshells” every day? If you do, it may be time to speak to someone and get help from a trusted adult such as a family member or teacher.
What help is available?
If you can, you should speak to a trusted adult such as a family member or a teacher. There are also organisations that help young people, these include Black Country Women's aid.
Further information is available online from:
