Relationships

Relationships are based on the many interactions we have with others. These relationships may be with …

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friends

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family

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parents/carers

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coaches or teachers

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medical professionals

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pets

Relationships

Take a few moments to think about the relationships that you have. You might even want to write them down.

Relationships

Relationships with others can help us to have fun, feel valued, learn from others, learn to compromise and show empathy and understanding to others.

These relationships are healthy and provide you and the person or people in the relationship with positive feelings and behaviours.

Think about the relationships you have and then think about what these relationships give you.

What do you get from the relationships in your life?

Relationships

Relationships can provide you with: 

• value;

• positive self-esteem;

• confidence;

• humour;

• support;

• encouragement;

• respect;

• belief;

• empowerment;

• love;

• care;

• learning.

Relationships

Like many things, relationships need practise and require effort. 

Spending time with people and making sure that they feel as valued as you do is an important way to make sure the relationship you are in is healthy and balanced. 

What else can you do to help your relationships stay healthy?

Think about: 

Relationships

Unfortunately, there will be times when some relationships either don’t start well or develop into a less healthy relationship. 

It is important to understand and recognise when relationships are not healthy and know that changes might be needed. 

Sometimes, relationships can be improved and made healthier but sometimes you may have to walk away from that relationship either for a short time or for good.

These relationships are unhealthy.

Unhealthy Relationships

Knowing when a relationship is unhealthy is important. 

Think about the relationships you have had in the past and some that you may have now. 

Think about relationships where you haven’t felt �valued or included, that haven’t been fun or enjoyable and you have felt upset or even hurt by someone. 

What behaviours might you notice �in a relationship like this?

Unhealthy Relationships

You might notice behaviours such as:

• being ignored;

• name calling;

• making rude comments;

Unhealthy Relationships

• whispering about someone;

• not sharing successes;

• not being shown respect;

• not being equal;

Unhealthy Relationships

• taking things that don’t belong to them; 

• destroying things that don’t belong to them;

• being left out socially;

Unhealthy Relationships

• sending hurtful messages;

• being jealous.

• getting people into trouble when it’s not their fault;

Unhealthy Relationships

Recognising that a relationship is unhealthy can be difficult especially when you care about the person or group of people. 

However, if you think that a relationship �is making you change as a person �(and not for the best) then it is likely �to be an unhealthy relationship. 

Sometimes, unhealthy relationships need to �be walked away from and ended. If you �are wanting to work on the relationship �to try and make it healthier how do you �think you could do that?

Unhealthy Relationships

Here are some things you could try:

• Talking to the person and explaining how you are feeling.

• Saying ‘no’ when you don’t agree with what they are doing.

• Standing up for yourself �and others more.

• Only doing what you �believe is the right thing to do and not being �influenced to change� your beliefs.

• Not following their behaviour.

• Thinking about why they may be behaving like this.

Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships

Think about and discuss these scenarios: 

• If you saw a friend being mean to another �friend and leaving them out of the group �what could you do? 

• If you got a message from someone that �was name calling what could you do?

• If you don’t feel valued by someone what �could you do to change it?

Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships

Learning how to manage and develop relationships is important. 

Some relationships will be for a short period of time, some might last a few years and others will last for a lifetime. 

Working out which relationships bring out the best in you and make you feel calm, supported and cared for is important for your happiness. 

If a relationship doesn’t feel right and is not making you happy, then speak to that person or a trusted adult who can support you with this.