For Fran Capell, life as a single mother has never been simple. Originally from Ontario and now living in Newfoundland, Fran is raising her 11-year-old son on her own while navigating the daily realities of ADHD, anxiety, depression, and the ups and downs that can come with them.
“It can be a rollercoaster,” she says honestly. “Sometimes you get through things day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.”
Before connecting with Strongest Families Institute (SFI), Fran says anxiety shaped much of her life.
“If someone knocked on my door, I’d be a nervous wreck,” she recalls. “I went out in public as little as I could and got back home as quickly as possible. A lot of times, I would just break down.”
Like many parents, Fran tried to protect her son from the weight of what she was carrying.
“My little one would give me a big hug and ask what was wrong. Try telling an 11-year-old nothing’s wrong and having him believe it.”
Over time, Fran began isolating herself more and more whenever things became difficult. Reaching out for help didn’t feel easy.
“Five years ago, I never would have reached out,” she says.
Fran was first referred to SFI through Child and Youth Services. Later, after experiencing the support of the program firsthand, she made the decision to refer herself back.
“That was huge for me,” she explains. “Before, I always felt like people were judging me. I had a lot of trust issues. But SFI made me feel welcome.”
Her decision to return to the program wasn’t just about herself, it was also about her son.
“I wanted him to see that his mom is strong,” she says. “If he sees things are helping mom, then maybe he’ll know it’s okay to ask for help too.”
One of the things that stood out most to Fran was the connection she felt with her SFI coach.
“They didn’t treat me like a number,” she says. “It felt like talking to a friend who genuinely cared.”
Though she admits she was initially nervous about being paired with a male coach, those concerns quickly faded.
“I laughed with him, I cried with him, I got frustrated, and he listened,” she says. “You can tell when people truly love what they do.”
For Fran, that compassion made all the difference.
“If I was crying during a session, they never rushed me,” she says. “Every time I apologized, I was told I didn’t need to. As soon as those words came out of his mouth, I could feel myself calming down.”
The flexibility of the program also helped during an especially difficult period in her life.
“There was a lot going on, and sometimes I had to reschedule,” Fran says. “They were so understanding. They worked with me to find times that fit my life.”
Through the program, Fran learned practical coping strategies, including deep breathing techniques and tools to manage overwhelming emotions before they escalated.
“I don’t get as antsy anymore,” she says. “If I feel my heart starting to race, I now have the tools to work through it.”
But perhaps the biggest change has been what her son sees.
“My boy has seen a difference in me, and that speaks volumes,” she says. “He sees mom happier. Mom smiles, and that makes him smile.”
Today, Fran says the atmosphere in their home feels different.
“For years, we had patchy moments,” she explains. “Now when we’re together, neither of us feels the need to back away from each other.”
When asked what she would say to another parent who may be struggling, Fran doesn’t hesitate.
“I’d tell them I was scared too,” she says. “But the fear does go away. The programs make life manageable again.”
She believes one of the most powerful things about SFI is how human the experience feels.
“Yes, it’s professional support,” she says, “but it feels like a friendship. It means a lot to know someone is sincere in helping.”
Looking back, Fran says reaching out was the hardest step, but also one of the most important.
“If there’s one thing I’d want people to know,” she says, “it’s that asking for help can change everything.”