Family can be biological, adoptive, step parents, foster carers, siblings, extended relatives and other significant people in life.  People have different experiences of what a family is, there is no right or wrong.

• A positive environment
• People feel happy, safe and secure
• Good family relationships are enjoyable
• A support system that can help during difficult times
• An environment that supports learning
• Everyone can feel loved, cared for and respected

• We talk to each other
• Everyone’s thoughts and views are listened to
• There are reasonable rules and boundaries
• Everyone is respected
• People in the family help each other
• Supported and cared for by other in the family
• Spending quality time together

It is common for there to be difficulties in family relationships.  Many things can affect family relationships

• Bereavements and loss
• Arguments and fallouts
• Family members’ mental health
• Parents separating and families separating
• Family members taking illegal drugs or drinking too much
• Health problems
• Someone leaving the family, perhaps going to university
• Difficulties around money and debt
• Not feeling heard and/ or seen

How you and family members might react and feel when difficulties happen

• Talking about family difficulties doesn’t always make things better and sometimes makes things worse
• Worried about the mood and behaviour of family members
• Feel unsafe and threatened
• Not always listened to or respected by your family when talking to them
• Your family argue and disagree a lot and it makes you feel sad and worried
• Finding it hard to concentrate at school, college, university, work
• Mood changes – anxiety, tiredness, irritation