With it being the start of a new year, and Valentine’s Day just around the corner, many Brits are opening up dating apps in hopes of sparking up a new romance. Love is in the air as 17 per cent of people previously admitted that they were anxious about entering 2025 without a partner.
However, it must be noted that there have been many changes to dating over the past few years, with people now starting to assess relationship compatibility around how people talk about mental health. Many dating app users are saying that being open and honest about mental health on a first date is most certainly a ‘green flag’.
This is a major change from just a few years ago, when a staggering two thirds of people were embarrassed to discuss such matters when first meeting with someone.
Long gone are the 20 questions list to get to know someone, as 28 per cent of people who are out seeking love would prefer to have meaningful conversations on a first date. They believe these conversations help get to the root of the person and showcase a level of vulnerability, which is much better than talking about the weather.
This is a growing shift from the past, where 32 per cent of singles admitted that they would have steered clear of conversations that related to mental health due to its associated stigma, reported the Mirror.
Hayley Quinn, a dating and relationships expert from the dating site Match, commented: “With our study revealing that three quarters of singles view mental health as a dating green flag, the days of feeling like you need to put on a pitch perfect performance for a successful date are long gone.
“Singles want to start something real, and in order to do so, they are approaching dating with more candour than ever before.” A whopping 86 per cent of singletons believe that in order to lay the foundations for a strong relationship, it is crucial to talk about mental health.
Of the dating app users, four in 10 who have been brave enough to bring up the topic have been frank about their own mental health journeys, with almost the same number (38%) being able to detail the struggles they faced along the way.
Three quarters of them felt that these candid conversations were beneficial, not just for the growing relationship, but their own mental wellbeing as well.
Quinn added: “By being open about their mental health and relationship expectations, singles are empowering themselves to build meaningful partnerships, where they can meet each other’s needs, and create happy, stable relationships.”
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