Blog
Stay connected with Erika’s Lighthouse. Read personal stories, hear about program updates, explore ways to improve mental health and stay relevant with commentary on the latest topics.
As Funds Expire, Equity & Sustainability Are Key
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...
Classroom Education’s Impact
We offer a suite of three educational programs designed to allow educators to empower their students with an introduction to mental health, depression literacy, help-seeking, and good mental health. These are no-cost, tier-one, early identification, and early...
NEW Student Fundraising Center
Erika’s Lighthouse has created a one-stop shop for student fundraising! Erika’s Lighthouse is a nonprofit with the mission to make sure no young person feels alone in their depression. We are dedicated to creating a community of empathy and education. We create upper...
The Benefits of Donating Stock to Erika’s Lighthouse
By donating stock to Erika’s Lighthouse, you have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on adolescent depression and ensure school communities have the knowledge and resources they need to support students’ mental health. There are many benefits to giving stock...
Suicide Prevention Month: You Are Not Alone
September is national suicide prevention awareness month. This is a time to shine a light on the topic of suicide, by encouraging conversations, providing education, and fighting against stigma. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 15-24 in...
The Four Pillars
Erika’s Lighthouse focuses on equipping school communities with the mental health education needed through four main pillars. Classroom Education, Family Engagement, Empowerment Clubs, and School Policy & Staff Development. These work together to promote and...
Portal Sponsorship: The Opportunity to Empower School Professionals Around the Country
You have the opportunity to empower school professionals around the country by sponsoring Erika’s Lighthouse Resource Portal. By focusing on a specific state or educational specialty (school social workers, health educators, or counselors), you can equip school...
Erika’s Lighthouse 2022-2023 Program Report
Erika's Lighthouse is a nonprofit dedicated to providing free turn-key resources to educators to create inclusive school cultures around mental health. Every student deserves good mental health. By using our resources in your school you promote school-wide mental...
Suicide Prevention Week: GIVE VOICE Campaign
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24 in the US. Nearly 20% of high school students in the US report having serious thoughts of suicide, and 9% have attempted suicide. That is why it is so important to raise awareness about suicide...
Giving Crypto to Erika’s Lighthouse
Cryptocurrency is one of the fastest-growing types of donations to charities. Over 300 million people hold cryptocurrency, and in 2022, over $125 million was donated through The Giving Block. So why donate crypto instead of cash? There are unique advantages to...
Erika’s Lighthouse: Family Engagement Conversations
Are you looking for free, turn-key family engagement resources around mental health? Â The resources we offer include two youth mental health workshops, a family handbook, practical language for having a...
Minority Mental Health: The Importance of Culturally-Sensitive Care and How Your Donation Can Help By: Nathalia Harris
In 2020, suicide was the third leading cause of death for black and African American youth ages 15-19. Mental health disparities among minority groups are a severe problem in the United States. There have been increasing trends in suicidal ideation and attempts among...
The Benefits of Using a Donor Advised Fund to Support Mental Health
Erika's Lighthouse is a nonprofit organization that provides free, donor-funded depression education programming to teens and educators. Our mission is to raise awareness about adolescent depression, promote good mental health, and empower teens. A donor advised fund...
The Family Conversation Journal: A Tool for Building Stronger Relationships
There are many different ways to communicate, and not everyone prefers or feels the most comfortable doing it verbally. It's important to be aware of different communication styles and to be flexible when communicating with your children. Writing can be such a...
Support the Beacon of Hope Golf Classic and Help Fight Adolescent Depression
Depression is a serious mental illness that affects millions of people around the world, including teens. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 1 in 5 teens experience depression at some point in their lives. You can sponsor golf to fight...
Key Club Raises Funds to Support Mental Health
The Wilmot Union High School Key Club raised funds to support mental health education by hosting a Snowball Dance at their school. Hello! My name is Katherine Bubel and I am part of the Wilmot Union High School’s Key Club. If you don’t know what Key Club is, it is a...
Mental Health is School Health By: Jeanie Alter, PhD
The American School Health Association (ASHA) is a national, multidisciplinary professional association that collaborates with Erika’s Lighthouse and others on a mental health initiative – Shine Light on Depression. ASHA’s work centers around connecting health and...
Parenthood By: Nell Osborne
A Heart on the Outside of the Body That is what it's like having children. That’s what we’re told and we accept that as how it is. However, I am sitting here thinking, Uhm. Okay. But how in the world do I live my life if my heart is outside of my body? How do I go to...