Divorce is not a dirty word.

42% of marriages end in divorce in the UK, and yet we're still treating it like it's something shameful. That needs to change.

That's why we've launched our latest campaign: to challenge the silence and stigma around the D-word. Because when we don't talk about divorce openly, we make it harder for everyone going through it.

“For too long, divorce has been whispered about as though it’s a failure or a flaw. My own experience showed me how damaging that silence can be – it makes people feel alone at the very moment they most need understanding. By opening up the conversation, we take away the shame and replace it with empathy and support. Talking honestly about divorce won’t make it easier, but it will make it healthier – for couples, for families and for society.” - Kate Daly, co-founder of amicable

Why divorce stigma hurts everyone

Ending a relationship can be one of the most challenging and painful moments in our lives. But avoiding the conversation around this life transition doesn't make it easier - it often makes it worse.

Divorce takes strength and resilience. It doesn’t represent failure – it marks a new beginning. When we avoid the subject, we create shame where there should be support. We fuel guilt when we should offer understanding.

When couples marry, we promise to support them. We say "we do" when asked if we'll uphold them through their journey. So why can’t we make the same vow for those who divorce?

What amicable believes about divorce

*The reality of divorce is complex, and it’s made even more difficult when society views it as a failure. *

Shame and grief is a hugely challenging part of the divorce process and has an impact on separating couples’ mental health, family dynamics, friends and children. Divorce is traditionally thought of as adversarial, expensive, full of blame and stress, which adds to the stigma.

However, what we believe about divorce is quite different. Divorce isn’t about ‘giving up’ or not being prepared to honour your vows. It’s often a brave and necessary decision, particularly when two people realise that their partnership is no longer healthy, loving or they are no longer working towards shared goals.

We believe divorce can be:

• A necessary step towards happiness
• An act of self-respect and mutual respect
• The start of healthier co-parenting
• A chance to rebuild and thrive

Divorce shouldn’t be shamed or judged. We should work to normalise the conversations around divorce, and show that a separation based on mutual respect and teamwork is possible in most cases. We’ve created tools that support couples amicably untie the knot, save time and money and focus on creating independent futures.

How you can get involved

You are part of this story, and we’d love for you to get involved if you have something on your mind, or an experience you would be willing to share. This is so important for helping to change the conversation around how people end relationships.

Share your divorce, separation or co-parenting story (this can be completely anonymous, or you can let us know if you’d be open for us to share more widely!) - simply comment on our social media platforms or email us.

Follow us on social media for updates, tag us or use the hashtag #DivorceIsNotADirtyWord

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