Erika’s Lighthouse is dedicated to adolescent mental health and our mission of ensuring no young person ever feels alone in their depression. 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 […]
Trigger Warning: Suicidal Ideation My Story I have always been someone who is afraid of reaching out for help. However, that had to change when at the end of freshman year I reached a point where I could not handle everyday life and feelings by myself. My parents were freshly divorced, COVID hit, and my […]
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, […]
Cultural Differences & Mental Health An aspect of identity that is often overlooked is culture. Schools need to be focused and remain vigilant about unique cultural distinctions relating to students. Our culture, beliefs, sexual identity, values, religion, race, and language all affect how we perceive and experience mental health concerns. Â In fact, a number of […]
Do the family members of your district have the tools and knowledge they need to recognize signs of depression? Are they trusted adults who can address mental health? Do they know where to get help for their students or other teens in the community? Who We Are Erika’s Lighthouse is a non-profit organization founded in […]
We have heard so much about everyone’s declining mental health – particularly our young people. In our effort to bring attention to this challenge, are we unintentionally doing more harm? In a recent opinion piece in Newsweek, Nat Kendall-Taylor and Andrew J. Fuligni, CEO of the Frameworks Institute and Professor in the Department of Psychology […]