When you’re struggling with mental health challenges, it can be tough to know where to turn for help. You may feel like you’re all alone, or that you don’t deserve help. You may also worry about what other people will think if you reach out for support. The Help-Seeking Worksheet from Erika’s Lighthouse is a tool designed to help students overcome these barriers and get the support they need. The worksheet is divided into three sections: Identifying needs: This section asks a person to think about what kind of help they’re looking for. Are you feeling overwhelmed and need someone to talk to ..read more

Join us in support of Erika’s Lighthouse this holiday season!  Adolescent depression lives in the shadows. Young people facing it feel isolated and dangerously alone. Erika’s Lighthouse helps schools provide their students with the skills needed to talk to each other, to their parents, to their teachers, and to counselors. Our resources raise awareness, reduce stigma, educate students, promote good mental health, and encourage help-seeking. On December 2nd and 3rd, Erika’s Lighthouse will partner with elliestyled, Flower House and Farm, Ozmun Home, and Laughlin Gallery for a maker’s marke ..read more

“I am extremely satisfied with Erika’s Lighthouse Program. As a new school social worker, I find their provision of numerous free resources to be invaluable, enhancing accessibility significantly. The program offers step-by-step instructions and training for successful implementation. Evidently, their genuine support for mental health and suicide awareness/prevention shines through their mission and the program itself. It’s crucial for students to hear diverse experiences, especially from different backgrounds and perspectives, making this program truly impactful.” – School Social Worker, Illi ..read more

Erika’s Lighthouse Team Resilience has been running to support Erika’s Lighthouse mission for 10 years. We’ve grown from just one local runner to having 122 Marathon participants in 2024!  Team Resilience is a group of amazing individuals who are dedicated to helping further the mission of Erika’s Lighthouse. Our team is comprised of so many people who connect with the mission and want to help Get Depression Out of the Dark, including educators, parents, survivors of suicide loss, and those who wish they had access to our programs as students. With each year, there are more incredible sto ..read more

What programs or resources are included in Erika’s Lighthouse School Policy pillar? Erika’s Lighthouse offers school communities robust resources around school policy and staff development. Mental health and depression education are critical topics to be discussed in schools, but it can also be a topic that educators feel ill equipt to participate in. So, we provide a variety of resources that educate and empower school communities to increase their knowledge, skills, and comfort level around depression education. Let’s take a look at what is available: Five-Part Staff Training: Covering every ..read more

Erika’s Lighthouse believes that practicing good mental health is just as important for educators and administrators as it is for students. Schools can create a culture of wellness by providing staff with the resources and support they need to maintain their mental health. Erika’s Lighthouse offers a variety of resources to help educators and administrators foster an environment of good mental health practices. Our Staff Wellbeing Activities include: Good Mental Health Posters School Wide Activities Mindful Meetings Self Care Stations Coffee & Stress Table Tents Peer-to-Peer Activities ..read more

Erika’s Lighthouse is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and raising awareness about adolescent depression, encouraging good mental health and breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health issues. October 16-22 is National Estate Planning Awareness Week (NEPAW). Erika’s Lighthouse Legacy Society members are investing in the future of mental health by ensuring schools have access to mental health education for generations to come. Legacy Society members become part of a community of people who are passionate about adolescent mental health. Members are committed to making a dif ..read more

In today’s fast-paced world, it can be difficult for students to focus for long periods of time. They are constantly bombarded with stimuli, both in and out of the classroom. This can lead to stress, anxiety, and fatigue, all of which can interfere with learning. One way to help students manage stress and improve their focus is to provide them with regular mental health breaks. Try using Erika’s Lighthouse RECHARGE program. RECHARGE offers a variety of 5-minute breaks that can be completed in the classroom to boost mental health. RECHARGE offers activities in each of these areas: Journaling ..read more

One in five teens experiences a mental health disorder each year. That’s a lot of young people who are struggling in silence. Erika’s Lighthouse is a non-profit organization that is working to change that. We provide resources and support to teens and their families, and we work to create inclusive school cultures around mental health. One of the ways we do this is through our Empowerment Clubs. Erika’s Lighthouse believes that teens when given the right tools, can change the world. That is why we offer school mental health clubs and Awareness into Action Activities that help students empower ..read more

As Funds Expire, Equity & Sustainability Are Key A flurry of recent articles has raised the reality that federal COVID-19 relief funds are set to expire, and their renewal is unlikely. An example of this is the September 13th article from Chalkbeat, “Schools face a funding cliff. How bad will the fall be?”. The loss of funds is occurring at a pivotal point as students, and schools, have not fully recovered from the pandemic. This can be found in statistics around academic readiness and performance, attendance, and youth mental health. So, without additional funds, how should schools respon ..read more