A minister has voiced concern that more Singapore couples are resorting to divorce as the first option when their marriage hits a rocky patch. Noting that the number of divorces has risen from about 5,600 in 1998 to 7,200 in 2007, Mrs Yu-Foo said: 'We need to equip couples with the correct mindset and skills to see them through the ups and downs of marriage.

'Marriage is a commitment. Its success depends on the couples' deliberate decision to work at it, and to give and take. 'The way couples communicate with each other can make or break their marriage. And this convention is about learning how to speak to your life partner in a way that is honest and loving.