Healthy Relationships
A relationship is how two or more people are connected. You will have many different kinds of relationships at any point in your life.
Relationships can look different between different people. Everyone is different and have their own individual opinions on how relationships work. However, nobody should feel pressured to do things they don’t want to in a relationship or feel trapped or isolated by being in a relationship they don’t want to be in. A healthy relationship should be positive and be a positive addition to your life and wellbeing.
A healthy relationship checklist
In your relationship do you feel:
- Supported?
- Safe?
- Happy?
- Trusted?
- Respected?
- Loved?
Ask yourself:
Do you have fun?
Can you talk about things that are worrying or concerning you? Will that person listen to you?
If you aren’t happy in any of your relationships (this might be with a boyfriend, girlfriend, partner or family member) then the best thing you can do is talk to someone.
A Healthy Relationship
Characteristics you should expect
- Mutual respect and honesty
- Trust
- Compromise
- Making your own decisions
- Good communication
- Feeling safe all the time
- Problem solving
- Understanding
- Self-confident
- Brings out the best version of yourself
- Saying no is respected
An Unhealthy Relationship
Recognise the signs before they escalate
- Control - not being free to make your own decisions
- Hostility - not feeling safe
- Dishonesty - being lied to
- Disrespect
- Threats should the relationship ends
- Having to report where you are, what you are doing and who you are with
- Intimidation
- Making you doubt yourself
- Physical violence
- Sexual violence - not accepting when you say no
Signs of an unhealthy relationship may be subtle at first. If you are worried about any aspects of your relationship, talk to Teen Health or a trusted adult.
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