Couples seek help over rising pressures

HAVING children, working long hours and trying to manage money are propelling more and more couples into marriage and relationship counselling, new statistics show.

Figures released yesterday show a record 30,000 counselling sessions were delivered by Accord to 8,000 clients last year, half of whom were married couples.

The average couple turning to Accord for help was aged between 30 and 40 and had been married for 12 years. More than 70% had children and of these children, 77% were under the age of 11.