Denmark has brought in tougher divorce laws and will make couples go through counselling before they can break up.
The Scandinavian country had allowed married people to divorce by filling out a form online – but it has seen its divorce rates rocket to one of the highest in western Europe.
The new law, which was passed by the Danish Parliament in April, means couples with children under 18 will have to wait three months and see a counsellor before their divorce is sanctioned.
The law, which was passed by the Danish Parliament in April, means couples with children under 18 will have to wait three months and see a counsellor before their divorce is sanctioned (stock)
If they fail to finish the course in the three months, they have to stay married.
As many as 68 of the 98 local authorities in Denmark provide couple therapy, according to a survey by Politiken newspaper, when just five years ago only around 20 did.
The country has pushed for family rights in recent years, with a system of year-long parental leave as well as universal public daycare.
But there was a surge in divorces last year, reaching 15,000, which is just under half the number of yearly marriages.
As many as 68 of the 98 local authorities in Denmark provide couple therapy, according to a survey by Politiken newspaper, when just five years ago only around 20 did (stock)
Gert Martin Hald, a psychologist at Copenhagen University, who has played a part in forming the counselling course, told the Guardian: ‘This is about reducing the human and the financial costs of divorce.’
Ringkøbing-Skjern municipality in western Denmark was one of the first areas to test the therapy sessions.
It started free courses in 2011, and the council claims the divorce rate has fallen by 17 per cent. In 2018, a record 92 couples there were counselled.
Jette Haislund, the head of healthcare there, said: ‘It’s good for both the individual couple but also for the municipality – prevention is always better than cure.’
It is understood the courses – which can be done online or using an app – will be moulded to suit individual families to help them get along after the divorce.
The 17 half-hour modules give advice for how to deal with potential pitfalls, such as children’s birthdays.
Hald said the trial courses went well, with the majority of the 2,500 volunteers giving positive feedback.
This was supported by specialists, he said, adding that after a year former couples spoke as if they were still married.
One of the trialists, marketing executive Hjalmar, said it had helped him when he took part four years ago.
The marketing executive, who is in his 40s and did not want his full name published, added: ‘Obviously it’s not going to repair a broken marriage.
One of the trialists, marketing executive Hjalmar, said it had helped him when he took part four years ago (stock)
‘But it helps you sort out some pretty important stuff when you may not be thinking very clearly.’
There has been a small backlash to the law from the Liberal Alliance party – which claims it is an overstep by the state – but the public and politicians have mainly accepted the changes.
Jane Heitmann, from liberal opposition party Venstre, told the Ritzau news agency: ‘Municipalities deserve praise for taking the initiative to help more families prosper and stay together.’
And experts have had mixed reviews on the courses, with it working for some couples, but not applicable in violent or conflict-driven relationships.
One of the sticking points was the limbo the children are left in – as custody plans cannot be sorted during the three-month window.
It also impacts on the parents, who cannot arrange new accommodation when they do not know if their child will be joining them.
Trine Schaldemose, who is deputy head of family help association Mødrehjælpen, said counselling in any form was a good step but admitted some programmes were better than others.
The move comes after the UK reformed divorce law to make it easier for couples to split.
Justice Secretary David Gauke drew up plans in February to end the fault-based divorce system.
It will make it easier for couples to divorce without having to blame each other.
The divorce law was 50 years old and has been blasted for forcing spouses to list their partner’s bad behaviour.