May is Mental Health Month – How Divorce can Affect Mental Health?

mental health month divorce

Higher Conflict Divorces Lead To A Worse Decline In Mental Health Issues According To Study. Nearly 25% Of All Ohioans Impacted

mental health month divorceFor the last 70 years, the month of May has been observed as “Mental Health Month“, and according to the community-based non-profit, Mental Health America, nearly 25% of Ohioans have experienced mental health issues in the last few years.

Mental Health Month  provides an opportunity to increase awareness and understanding of mental illness, and to remind Ohioans that it’s OK not to be OK and it’s OK to ask for help,” said Aimee Shadwich, the RecoveryOhio Director in a press release by the state of Ohio on May 4th of this year.

“It is critical that access to timely and effective care is available to those who need it,” she continued.

Nationwide, about 1 in every 5 Americans will be diagnosed with a mental health condition in any given year, like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc. These conditions can affect one’s “emotional, psychological and social well-being” according to Mentalhealth.gov.

Divorce Can Be Emotionally And Physically Taxing On Mental Health

Many factors can contribute to being diagnosed with a mental health condition; … Read More... “May is Mental Health Month – How Divorce can Affect Mental Health?”

New Study: Does Marrying After the Birth of a Child Affect Your Likelihood of Divorce?

divorce study

Entering marriage without children results in positive marital outcomes according to study

Divorce Study Reveals Surprsing Data on Couples who had a Child Before Getting Married

marriage without children study divorceThere is one factor that seems to stand out in divorce cases; in fact, it makes it twice as likelythat a married couple might choose to call it quits. That factor? Couples who had a child before getting married.

A study conducted in 2020 and published by the Journal of Family Psychology found that couples with who had a child prior to marriage got divorced at a rate of 19.1%, as compared to those who entered marriage without a child (9.5%). That’s almost double the rate of divorces!

With both marriage rates and divorce rates down, and with more couples in the United States entering marriages with a child together already, researchers with the American Psychology Association wanted to see how those relationships fared against newlyweds without children in the mix.

“Among couples who entered marriage with a shared biological child (premarital parents), satisfaction levels were lower and communication was less effective, less positive, and more negative than couples entering marriage without children,” the study said.

Does Entering Marriage Without Children Result

Read More... “New Study: Does Marrying After the Birth of a Child Affect Your Likelihood of Divorce?”

Blast From The Past: Are Divorce Lawyers Just “Love Undertakers”? [A Rebuttal]

Blast from the past 13 years Ohio Family Law Blog

Should Divorce Lawyers Engage In Mental Health?

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This blog is as meaningful today as it was when we originally posted it on May 11, 2019! We have a ton of interesting articles in our archives of the Ohio Family Law Blog. Use our Search tool and enjoy a few oldie but goodies!

Divorce Lawyers Should Not Assist Clients With Mental Health Issues Says NYC Attorney

divorce lawyers love undertakersA well respected New York City divorce lawyer by the name of Val Kleyman recently sent out a newswire to divorce lawyers warning them “to be careful not to cross over into the role of personal therapist for clients. This is a common problem that does not get enough attention” Attorney Kleyman said. He added, “helping someone deal with their emotions, feelings and mental health is a very serious undertaking and must only be done by professionals who are trained and experienced doing this.”

While I agree with most of that, here is the point he made that hit me hard. “Divorce lawyers are the love undertakers. Unlike marriage counselors and therapists whose job it is to save relationships and help people heal, our job is to bury dead marriages quickly and efficiently … Read More... “Blast From The Past: Are Divorce Lawyers Just “Love Undertakers”? [A Rebuttal]”

How To Survive A Bad Marriage Without Divorce

surviving bad marriage divorce

Tips to Help Deal with the Emotional Disconnect of a Bad Marriage

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: I always try to thoroughly explore options with clients considering a divorce, such as marital counseling, trial seperations, mediation etc. Divorce should NEVER be entered into lightly! I think Dr. Karen Finn article below is an excellent one! She clearly lays out tips to deal with an emotional disconnect.

Will a Mini Separation Help a Bad Marriage and Prevent Divorce?

bad marriage divorcePre-marriage 101 may give you a hefty toolkit for building a healthy marriage from the outset. Do everything correctly, and you won’t be wondering how to survive a bad  marriage. Without divorce as an option, however, every couple needs to learn skills for sticking it out when the relationship loses its luster.

There are times and circumstances that warrant the end of a marriage. No one should resolve to tough things out when there is abuse, for example – whether physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual. Safety is a non-negotiable.

(*If you or someone in your home is a victim of domestic abuse, please do not wait to get help. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE [7233] and keep this number in your phone Read More... “How To Survive A Bad Marriage Without Divorce”

Tips to Maintain Good Communications with Your Spouse During a Divorce

good communication divorce spouse

Divorce with your spouse not going well? Good communication plays important role for a happier outcome

good communication divorce spouseIt would seem to go without saying, that good communication between a couple is an essential part of a good marriage. However, did you know that good communication between the two spouses is just as important when navigating the often turbulent waters during a divorce? As a married couple you may have had good communication, or perhaps your lack of communication was one of the reasons for the divorce.

No matter what has happened in the past it is important to be able to communicate with your soon to be ex. You may be experiencing sadness, anger, stress, frustration, among other emotions, but by establishing an effective means of communication is an important part to help the process move on more smoothly.

You might be tempted to minimize contact with your ex, however this is not the way to go. If children are involved you will have to communicate with your spouse for many years to come. However, if you were married to an abusive person or if there is a restraining order involved, then it is vital you consult with … Read More... “Tips to Maintain Good Communications with Your Spouse During a Divorce”

Effects of Divorce on Children – Some Interesting Statistics

divorce child support kids statistics

Financial Statistics Reveal Compelling Divorce Data

The Financial and Emotional Impact for Kids of Divorce – What do the Statistics Really Say?

divorce child support kids statisticsI have always found statistics and research studies quite interesting. I like to look at them to see how they compare to my own perceptions and life experiences.

As a divorce lawyer for 40 plus years, and publisher of the Ohio Family Law Blog since 2009, keeping on top of divorce trends is something I enjoy doing. In searching the internet recently, I came across the website www.financesonline.com. I found this website to have an amazingly broad aggregation of divorce related information and statistics  (including footnotes to their sources). I spent a fair amount of time reading it and thought sharing the link might be worthwhile to our blog readers. Here is a sample section. Perhaps it will pique your interest!

EFFECTS OF DIVORCE ON CHILDREN:

  • Divorced spouses evade over 30% of child support payments, with less than 50% paid in full. (Leefeldt, 2019)
  • Moreover, only 43.5% of custodial parents receive full support from their former spouses. (Leefeldt, 2019)
  • In addition, more than $10 billion in child support payments in the US go uncollected. (Leefeldt, 2019)
  • 26.5%
Read More... “Effects of Divorce on Children – Some Interesting Statistics”

Blast From The Past: Coping with Difficult Behavior

Blast from the past 13 years Ohio Family Law Blog

How to Cope with Difficult Behavior and Difficult People in a Divorce

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This blog from guest contributor, Donna F. Ferber, LPC, LADC, is as meaningful today as it was when we originally posted it on May 1, 2010! We have a ton of interesting articles in our archives of the Ohio Family Law Blog. Use our Search tool and enjoy a few oldie but goodies!

difficult behavior divorceThroughout life, we sometimes encounter difficult people. We may argue with them, fall silent, comply or take distance. In a divorce, particularly an acrimonious one, difficult behaviors abound. No one is on their best behavior under this amount of stress. Figuring out how to cope with difficult behavior  is a bit easier once you can identify why a person behaves in a certain way and what he/she hopes to accomplish.

Here is a list of the most common behaviors that frustrate us all and suggestions for dealing with them:

The Bully – uses temper tantrums to overwhelm you; makes insulting and cutting remarks. Needs to feel superior and not lose control of the situation. Wants to get his/her own way.

*Stand up, listen, do not attack back, and take time-outs. Keep … Read More... “Blast From The Past: Coping with Difficult Behavior”

Page 12 of 39
1 10 11 12 13 14 39