Mental Health Awareness Month May 2025

Our life changed drastically when my husband Ted was rushed to the hospital August 18, 2024 in Calgary due to my daughter hearing him gurgle on the phone. He arrived at the hospital in critical condition, he was drowning in his own fluid ( leaky valve). He had open heart surgery on September 9th which went well but another issue appeared having him on 14 pumps and 10 people trying to save his life. Standing in the ICU with another daughter watching the team trying to save his life was terrifying. Then it happened, his heart started beating which had us and everyone working on him relieved!!!!!

The reason I am sharing the short version of nearly losing my husband is to share with you of what I learned through this terrifying event which has me grateful for him being with me and the family today.

I coach families who are challenged in knowing HOW TO use our tools to support a family member who is struggling with mental health and/or addiction. I partnered with Dr Wayne Hammond with Flourishing Life who provides a strength-based questionnaire for individuals to complete prior to our 10-week session starting and complete a second one the 9th week prior to the last week. Each participant receives a profile highlighting certain strengths they are confident with and other strengths that are growth opportunities to explore and build up in ways to enhance their ability to create success in positive ways.

If I am having others do this, I decided January 23/ 2024 I needed to complete the questionnaire to learn more about myself.

The Sparks Report showed I had 3 strengths - Adaptable and Change Receptive, Competence Focused and Confident Learner.

The one area to strengthen to achieve greater success was: Emotionally Aware and Self-Regulated - being aware of your own emotions. It was understanding the ability to manage disruptive emotions and impulses such as think before acting. It is about taking a step back and process your emotions before reacting to them. I worked through the process of what was suggested in the module on Emotional Self-Regulation.

October 4, 2024, after my husband was doing well, I decided to do the questionnaire again to see if anything had changed since this life changing event. To My SURPRISE, my profile showed "Emotionally Aware and Self- Regulated was one of my strongest areas and the Area I needed to work on was Self- Kindness/Compassion - do Self care which didn't suprise me but validated it was important for me to do for the best interest of my health and wellness in order to be the best support for Ted. I am glad I learned this prior to the terrrifying event so I could manage the difficult emotional times.

What are your strengths? What strengths are growth opportunities to explore and build up in ways to enhance your ability to create success in positive ways!.

Mona Cooley - mona.cooley@coolfamilysolutions.com - 403.512.5558