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.

Get Involved: Join Our Young Adult Board

Get Involved: Join Our Young Adult Board

The Erika's Lighthouse Young Adult Board (YAB)  is composed of post-college members who host activities to raise funds and awareness about teen depression and mental health among their peers.  While Erika's Lighthouse is based out of Chicago, we invite members from...

Are We Really Connecting?

Are We Really Connecting?

The Social Challenge Today we live in a society where news and information are always at our fingertips. Communications of all kinds, photographs, information, and videos are available to download and view with just one click. We are bombarded with news, and these...

12 Phrases that Integrate Mental Health into PE

12 Phrases that Integrate Mental Health into PE

Physical Education is a key area to help bridge this divide with students. By highlighting the impact on their mental health while engaging in physical activity, students of all ages are able to understand that good physical health can promote good mental health....

Teaching Mindfulness: from a high school teacher’s perspective

Teaching Mindfulness: from a high school teacher’s perspective

  This year, probably one of the most challenging ones in my 20+ year career, has been all about shifting, pivoting, and adapting everything we know about education to present lessons on a screen. Our mission as educators has been to provide high-quality learning...

How to support CPS students worried about going back to school

How to support CPS students worried about going back to school

Chicago Public Schools is reopening classrooms for kindergarten through fifth grade Monday. Giving students a sense of transparency and protection is essential to smoothing this transition, mental health experts say. Some Chicago Public Schools students are counting...

You CAN Overcome

You CAN Overcome

Hey friend! Yes you! Chances are that if you stumbled across this post, you or someone you know is having a rough time right now. And maybe it’s been going on for a while.  There may be days where that depression hits hard, and you sit alone in your home with thoughts...

Team Resilience: Johnny Figel–Running For A Reason

Team Resilience: Johnny Figel–Running For A Reason

Team Resilience is comprised of all of the amazing athletes that have come together to support Erika's Lighthouse in the mission to Get Depression Out of the Dark. Our team ranges from twenty to seventy-year-olds, first-time runners, to marathon experts. What do they...

Why Mental Health Advocacy Is Important to Me

Why Mental Health Advocacy Is Important to Me

Teen mental health is a very important topic to me. As someone who has struggled, bringing light to the importance of advocacy for teens is something I believe is necessary. I have always been someone who has believed in the power of doing good. Raising awareness for...

The Sirens Are Blaring

The Sirens Are Blaring

The sirens are blaring and the lights are flashing - are schools paying attention? Article after article is warning us of a dangerous trend: adolescent anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation is rising: Starting in April 2020, emergency room visits for mental health...

Program Realignment to Create Cultural Change

Program Realignment to Create Cultural Change

Erika's Lighthouse is proud to announce a change to our programs for the 2021-22 School Year. Our Program Realignment initiative will create more integration between our programs to maximize interventions to generate real cultural change in schools. Watch our recent...

Join Team Resilience – Get Depression Out of the Dark

Join Team Resilience – Get Depression Out of the Dark

It’s that time of year again … the time to create your resolutions and set goals for the new year. Here’s a great one - Sign up for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Imagine yourself running around the beautiful city and crossing the finish line among runners from...

Turning Passion Into Action

Turning Passion Into Action

After being pulled in so many directions at school, the sudden shift to having so much free time can trigger boredom, frustration, and can even challenge a student’s emotional health. A group of friends home from college chose to use this time to not only take care of...

Starting A Teen Club to Protect Mental Health

Starting A Teen Club to Protect Mental Health

I recently started an Erika’s Lighthouse Teen Club at my school. Since the club’s first meeting, my friends and I have discussed and explored many mental health topics, such as stress management and art therapy! The club and I are very excited about all of our...

Resolve To Take Care Of Your Mental Health

Resolve To Take Care Of Your Mental Health

It’s that time of year, the time for New Year’s Resolutions. So many people decide that January is the time to start taking care of their physical health. They join a gym, commit to classes and clean the kitchen of all the holiday foods that are delicious and...