It’s good to talk, but only if you can afford to go private.

Author and broadcaster Ruby Wax is leading a campaign to get the government to invest more in relationship support services in her role as president of Relate.

The charity is working in partnership with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BCAP) under the hashtag #investinrelationships.

In a poll of more than 2000 users of the Relate website 35% of respondents said they had sought relationship counselling but had either discontinued it of been put off entirely by the cost. This rose to 41% amongst users who are on low incomes.

A separate poll conducted by YouGov for the BCAP found that 21% of respondents on low incomes said that mental health problems had had an impact on their relationships. They also cited debt, poor housing and physical health problems as significant causes of stress.

There are currently 2.87million people in the UK who are in ' distressed' relationships, despite strong evidence that it is effective counselling is not currently commissioned by the NHS, leaving people seeking support with the choice of either paying or relying on charities like Relate.

When asked 94% of respondents said that having a strong relationship was important and 68% agreed that everyone should be able to access counselling regardless of their ability to pay.

David Weaver, president of the BCAP told Mental Health Today ' we know that counselling can change lives and that at times of difficulty that it can make a world of difference'.

He added that ' relationship counselling should be free to everyone whenever they need it, so they can live happier healthier lives'.

Also speaking to Mental Health Today Ruby Wax said the impact of relationship stresses on people on low incomes was a 'social justice issue’.

She added that ' without support distressed relationships can have devastating consequences leading to homelessness, domestic violence and mental illness’.

Relate have launched a petition calling on the government to invest in access to relationship support services, details of which can be found by following this link https://www.relate.org.uk/investinrelationships