# @childrenscolo on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DYe7B73Flx4
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/68564158-childrenscolo-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/b7e971df3f.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-05-18T14:21:15.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Children's Hospital Colorado (@ChildrensColo) — https://gondola.cc/ChildrensColo

## Caption

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 Institute and part of her day at home or school. 

From intensive outpatient care, London transitioned to the Partial Hospitalization Program, which involved longer days in the hospital and evenings at home.

“For the first time in a good long while, I didn't feel that same numbness as I did,” London recalls. “I didn't actively want to hurt myself in any way.” 

Most recently, London, Missy and John participated in group family therapy. When she’s not in a more formal therapy setting, she’s practicing her own version of therapy: art. Her works have received recognition locally and often help her cope through difficult times. 

She hopes that other kids find their own way to cope, and to take the brave step of advocating for their mental well-being, just as she did in the past and is doing now as an ambassador for GiveChildrensCO. 

“I think that a lot of times it's way harder for teens to reach out, just because they're trying to be an adult,” London says. “But it's not a matter of maturity, it's a matter of getting the help that you need. And that in and of itself is very mature.” 

#HereItsDifferent #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #BreakTheStigma #MentalHealthMatters

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## Tags

breakthestigma, mentalhealthawarenessmonth, hereitsdifferent, mentalhealthmatters

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