“It Felt Like Home”: How Edgewood Gave Clover the Tools to Heal
Clover reached out to us through LinkedIn—not to ask for help, but to say thank you. Years after their stay at Edgewood, they wanted us to know that those two weeks in April 2021 had changed the trajectory of their life. When we asked if they’d share their story to give hope to other young people, they didn’t hesitate.
A Turning Point
Before Edgewood, Clover’s adolescence had been marked by repeated hospitalizations, overwhelming anxiety, panic attacks, and suicidal ideation that began in childhood. Each institutional setting felt clinical, impersonal—places where they were a patient, not a person.
Edgewood was different.
“It felt like a home rather than a hospital,” Clover explains. The staff didn’t just follow protocols—they genuinely cared. They respected Clover’s identity as a non-binary queer person. They listened to their needs, their interests, who they really were. “They saw me,” Clover says.
Building a Foundation
During those two weeks, Clover gained more than coping skills—they found connection, understanding, and a roadmap for recovery. The therapeutic work extended beyond individual healing to family healing, helping repair relationships strained by years of crisis.
The results speak for themselves: Clover has not been hospitalized since leaving Edgewood.
Turning Pain into Purpose
Today, Clover is channeling their healing into action. They’re pursuing a degree in social work while actively organizing with youth in their community. Through initiatives like Bake It Forward, they’re raising funds to support families in need. Their lived experience has become their greatest asset in social justice work—they understand what young people are going through because they’ve been there.
A Message of Hope
Clover’s advice to adults working with young people? “Listen. Really listen. Create safe spaces where kids can be themselves. Adult mentorship and genuine connection are essential to breaking cycles of mental health crisis.”
And to young people struggling right now? “There is hope. Healing is possible. You deserve support, and you deserve to be seen for who you are.”
The Edgewood Difference
Clover’s story embodies what we believe at Edgewood: that with the right support, young people don’t just survive—they thrive. They become leaders, healers, and changemakers in their own communities.
When Clover says those two weeks changed their life, we’re reminded why we do this work. Every young person who walks through our doors carries infinite potential. Our job is to help them see it, believe it, and build the life they deserve.
Help Us Create More Stories Like Clover's
Clover’s story is shared with their permission to inspire hope in others. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out. Help is available, and recovery is possible.