Women lean on friends to manage emotional well-being

A new YouGov  survey commissioned by the Counselling Directory reveals that friendship is the first line of emotional support for many women. More than four in 10 women (42%) say they turn to friends when they’re feeling emotionally low, compared with just 27% of men.

Romantic partners also play a significant role, with around a third of women (34%) saying they turn to their partner during difficult moments. Together, these figures paint a picture of women as deeply connected, yet beneath that sits another story.

When it comes to seeking professional help, far fewer women take that step. Just 13% say they would turn to a GP or medical professional, and only 8% seek support from a therapist – despite often being the emotional support system for others.

Confidence also remains low amongst women, only 8% say they feel extremely confident managing their emotional well-being, less than half the proportion of men (18%).

For many women, the barrier may be self-doubt. When asked why they didn’t seek professional help even when they felt they needed it, a quarter (25%) said they believed their problem wasn’t 'serious enough'.

The findings suggest that while women are highly attuned to supporting friends, partners and family, they are often far less generous with themselves, questioning whether their own feelings are valid enough to warrant help.

Despite growing AI technology, the results also highlight that women prefer real-life connection. When asked about their concerns regarding using an AI chatbot, 51% of women said AI lacks genuine human empathy, and 49% said they prefer to speak to a real human.

Counselling Directory member and psychotherapist Debbie Keenan comments on the findings: 

For many women, emotional strength is built first and foremost through connection, particularly in friendships, which are often their first source of support during difficult times.

The difference in confidence reported by men and women is also shaped by social expectations. Historically, men were often encouraged to project self-reliance, while women tend to be more emotionally self-aware and self-critical, despite often carrying a 'triple shift' of economic, domestic and emotional labour. Confidence doesn't always reflect capacity, and silence rarely equals strength.

Editors notes

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2093 UK adults, 1108 women. The fieldwork, commissioned by Counselling Directory, was undertaken between 6th - 7th January 2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).