Fears of a second lockdown have created a sense of panic and urgency among struggling marriage, with a noticeable increase in couples seeking separation advice as the pandemic rolled on in Malta, particularly after Easter.
As reported by Times of Malta, family lawyers have stated that the number of people seeking separation increased drastically after Easter as couples initially tried to wait the semi-lockdown out but later succumbed to frustration as the situation extended beyond expectations.
Lack of distraction and entertainment has been listed as one of the top reasons for this spike, with several family lawyers explaining that the COVID-19 pandemic forces people to reassess their priorities. Another core issue was a heightened reliance on alcohol as well as substance abuse.
The article also makes mention of already-separated couples and observed that some parents took custody issues to the extreme during the pandemic resulting in a negative impact on children.