At the age of 12, London was the target of bullying. Her parents, Missy and John, saw their intelligent, athletic, creative daughter struggle like never before. That’s when she asked for help. “She started down a dark path of self-harm and depression. We didn't know what to do, and she had thought about or had voiced wanting to harm herself,” says Missy. That was the family’s first foray into the mental health care system. After that moment, London was hospitalized in three different facilities in and around Denver, but none provided the right environment for London to heal. Instead, she says, they felt like punishment. “That’s when we were lucky enough to get a referral and to get accepted over at Children’s Hospital Colorado,” Missy says. “It was the most amazing thing, and that is when we started having a turning point for London.” Initially, London took part in a six-week intensive outpatient program. She spent part of each day receiving care in our Pediatric Mental Health Ins...