“The one message I want to get out and believe so strongly, is that we need to
have family involved when we are supporting a loved one.”
“That’s what families connect with – somebody who has
walked through it and been there and understands it,” she
says.
Cooley speaks often about the impact of having a family
member with a mental disorder and the need for honest
conversations. “It affects everyone in the family, and everyone
responds differently, but having that support is critical,” she
says, adding that the important piece is that everyone comes
together as a family.
Using her daughter’s experience as an example, Cooley
explains that the strong support system helps her daughter
move forward with her illness. “She knows that things aren’t
going to collapse underneath her when things do not go well.
That foundation is so solid and it gives her the confidence
knowing that she’s not fighting this by herself. She has a family
who knows what skills to use and when to use them, how to
step in and what works best. We just do it automatically, and
that to me is huge.”
In terms of the Family Support program, Cooley encourages
families to reach out and realize the benefits that come from
being part of it. “The one message I want to ge Ё