"Family Problems"; The Most Common Reason for Visiting Counseling Centers in Iran

An official from the Ministry of Sports and Youth states that "60 percent" of individuals visiting marriage and family counseling centers of this ministry have done so due to "family problems." Javad Razavi, the director general of the Planning and Social Development Office of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, reported in an interview with ISNA that the number of visitors to these centers last year was 23,111. According to him, about 60 percent of these individuals sought help due to "family issues, couple problems, and pre-marital counseling." The significance of these visits is highlighted by the notable statistics of violence, conflicts, and family murders in Iran, suggesting that counseling on these issues could potentially prevent relationships from deteriorating into violence or murder. Based on statistics from the Legal Medicine Organization in 2017, the highest recorded cases of spousal abuse in 2016 were in Tehran, Razavi Khorasan, and Isfahan, with 17,083, 7,385, and 6,483 cases respectively. These provinces also had the highest rates of domestic violence against women in 2015. The director general also noted that 62.39 percent of the visitors were women and 37.61 percent were men, with 57.51 percent being single and 42.49 percent married. Furthermore, 39.38 percent of these individuals had a diploma or lower, 41.81 percent held a bachelor's degree, 15.17 percent had a master's degree, and 3.63 percent had a doctorate or higher. According to this official, 12.5 percent of the visitors were unemployed, 16.81 percent were students, 35.09 percent were employed, 20.6 percent were self-employed, and 14.97 percent were homemakers. This data comes at a time when, despite extensive government efforts, there is still a negative social perception regarding visiting counseling centers and seeking help from professionals, leading individuals to traditionally share their problems with family or friends, which can sometimes exacerbate the issues. The societal stigma towards those seeking help, often labeling them as having severe psychological issues, also contributes to the reluctance to visit counseling centers. Additionally, official authorities regard divorce as a "social harm" and emphasize the increasing difficulty of divorce, even consensual divorce, and the need for reconciliation and continuation of life together. Some experts stress the role of the government in promoting a culture that encourages people to visit these centers, alongside increasing their number across the country. In the same context, nearly 15,000 cases of spousal abuse have been reported in the first six months of this year, with one in three women in Tehran facing violence. The Deputy of the Judiciary has opposed the bill to combat violence against women, and the long-standing halt of the bill to prevent violence against women in the legislative commission has been noted. The highest referrals of Tehran residents to forensic medicine have been due to disputes, accidents, or spousal abuse, with around 10,000 cases of spousal abuse referred to forensic medicine in six months. In Iran, "less than 35 percent" of domestic violence incidents are reported to the police.