Category: Classroom Programs
Why Educators Must Focus on Student Mental Health
By: Stephanie Morris
Erika’s Lighthouse at SHAPE Florida I heard an amazing presentation on Erika’s Lighthouse curriculum at a conference hosted by SHAPE Florida, the state organization for physical and health education K-12 teachers in Florida. Rachel Winsten, a high school P.E. teacher presented with passion and spoke about the opportunity through Erika’s Lighthouse. Erika’s Lighthouse offers resources […]
Schools Can Address Mental Health Smarter, Better, Easier
Another study. Another confirmation that our youth are struggling with their or their peers’ mental health. In fact, student mental health experiences are now dramatically, and negatively, impacting the academic purpose of schools. According to the latest YouthTrust Student Survey, “‘Depression, stress, and anxiety’ is the most prevalent obstacle to learning for secondary […]
Skills-Based Health Education Beyond the Classroom
By: Holly Alperin and Sarah Benes
Take a moment to think back to your health education class (if you even had one). What comes to mind? For many people, memories of health education involve “just say no,” lots of “don’t do (insert behavior here)” and scare tactics. We also often hear that their health education wasn’t engaging, relevant, or all that […]
Erika’s Lighthouse Update on Adolescent Mental Health: February 2023
In February 2023, the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows alarming data on the mental health emergency our children are facing. In the past 12 months: However, the CDC found school connectedness has a long-lasting protective impact. School connectedness is when students feel that adults and peers in the school care about their learning as […]
Utilizing Tier 1 Universal Supports and Practices to Provide Mental Health Education to All
By: Nancy Watson, LCSW, CADC
Schools Promoting Mental Health As a mental health professional with experience working in a school environment, I appreciate that schools play an essential role in promoting well-being and student mental health. The structures and systems in schools are uniquely suited to offer students the opportunity to navigate the everyday stressors of life, build healthy relationships, […]