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.
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...
Support Erika’s Lighthouse in Kind and Volunteering
At Erika’s Lighthouse, we believe in creating a more equitable and inclusive world around mental health. We want every student in every school to have access to mental health education programs that change the narrative around stigma, depression, and suicide. That is...
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...
Signs & Symptoms of Adolescent Depression
Adolescent depression is real, serious and treatable. However, adolescence is a time of major changes, both physically and emotionally. That may make it difficult to identify beyond typical adolescent behavior, but by looking for the signs and symptoms of depression,...
Mental Health Awareness Month: Take the Positivity Pledge
The end of the school year is right around the corner and it brings an exciting time for change and new chapters in students' lives. Erika's Lighthouse recognizes this may also be a stressful and overwhelming...
Promoting Student Thriving by Connecting SEL and Mental Health By: Karen VanAusdal
Where It Begins For many districts, the path they follow into a more systemic approach to social and emotional learning (SEL) begins with concerns for their students (and adults’) mental wellness. This is both a logical connection as well as a narrow view of SEL. ...
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...