Give Voice
for Suicide Prevention
Kick-off the year with a campaign to promote good mental health, help-seeking and an inclusive school culture!
May is Mental Health Awareness Month!
End your school year with messages about good mental health by challenging staff and students to take the pledge to put some good in the world for 31 days.
Welcome !
Thank you for being a champion for mental health for your family. Our resources are designed to be used by schools to promote an inclusive school culture around mental health. We establish shared vocabulary and values between educators, students and families. But, our Family Engagement materials are designed for you – so please use them.
Thank you for supporting your young person.
Important Updates
NEW! Mental Health Student Leadership Academy Located in the Empowerment Clubs section below, students can watch the newly updated videos (by a fellow high school student!) to complete the training in three parts: Mental Health 101, Being a Trusted Peer, and How to be a Mental Health Leader. Each module is 10-15 minutes in length and includes discussion questions.
Empowerment Club Info Webinar Listen to this webinar to learn about how you can start a Teen Empowerment Club, the benefits of a club, and more! Vimeo | YouTube
The Four Pillars: Check out our new section below, The Four Pillars, which highlights how schools can incorporate all four of our primary offerings (Classroom Education, Teen Empowerment, Family Engagement and Staff Development) to truly make a change in their communities in the area of mental health.
NEW! ChangeMaker Network: Use the Erika's Lighthouse ChangeMaker Network to collaborate, share, discuss and support mental health in clubs across the country. Introduce yourself and your club, meet others, share what your club is going, get your questions answered and more…
Family Engagement
Erika's Lighthouse equips school communities to effectively and meaningfully engage and educate families, parents and caregivers. Educators and school professionals can leverage these workbooks, workshops and resources so families can be ready and prepared to be mental health partners at home. The Family Engagement pillar was updated through a generous grant from the Imagine Learning Foundation.
Family Engagement Planning & Implementation
Plan & Implementation
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Family Letter/EmailsMake a copy of the template and customize for your school! |
By using any program or resource you are required to complete our Report on Impact Form.
Family Engagement & Education
Community Ambassadors
The Erika's Lighthouse Community Ambassadors are dedicated volunteers and organizations helping spread awareness about Erika's Lighthouse free resources to school communities around the country. Below are all the resources you'll need.
Introduce Erika's LighthousePrepareProgram Overview Mandatory Training Process Overview Optional: Telling Your Story, Our Way Make ContactEmail Template to Schools PresentIntroducing Erika's Lighthouse ResourcesCheck out these additional materials that you may wish to share with prospective schools. |
Host Family WorkshopsSchools, districts or community-based organizations may ask for workshops for families. You can offer these with easy, turn-key presentations that are ready to go. DIY Family Workshop I DIY Family Workshop II Report on Impact Additional ResourcesFamily Workbook Series |
Fundraising
Erika's Lighthouse programs and resources are donor-funded, allowing us to make them available FREE for any school, any where. Over 80% of our work is funded by passionate individuals from around the country. Join us as we work to promote inclusive school communities around mental health. Inclusive school communities can prevent mental distress and reduce suicidal ideation by normalizing conversations, promoting good mental health and encouraging help-seeking.
Activities & InitiativesStudent Fundraising Center Beacon of Hope Walk Team Resilience Shine A Light Light A Beacon |
ResourcesFundraising Checklist FLYERS & HANDOUTS |
Below are even more resources designed for school communities. Feel free to take a look at how our other programs can be used in your school to help empower teens, educate staff, and engage families. Together we can normalize conversations, reduce stigma, promote good mental health and encourage help-seeking.
Four Pillar Implementation - Inclusive School Culture
School Culture FrameworkNEW! Erika's Lighthouse has adopted a School Culture Framework model promoted by Ebony Bridwell-Mitchell, PhD from the National Institute for Urban School Leaders at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Check in with a member of our education team to get started promoting your own inclusive school culture today. Four Pillar ImplementationThe Four Pillar Scope & Sequence offers schools the opportunity to deliver school-wide programming to promote a culture of inclusivity around mental health. By utilizing the Erika's Lighthouse Classroom Education, Teen Empowerment, Family Engagement, and Staff Training & Development pillars, school communities can support a culture of good mental health at all levels. Contact Erika's Lighthouse Share our Resources |
Additional Resources |
By using any program or resource you are required to complete our Report on Impact Form.
Classroom Education
Erika's Lighthouse offers three "levels" of programs, each with its own Plan & Implementation, that districts, schools and educators can use to build shared values and vocabulary around mental health. Classroom Education is the foundation of student-facing understanding to recognize the signs & symptoms of depression, promote good mental health and encourage help-seeking.
Classroom Education Planning & Implementation
Plan & ImplementationLevel I: One-Day | Full Program For Districts & SchoolsFour Pillar Scope & Sequence |
Program EvaluationsOur new pre/post program evaluations are designed to capture a well-rounded perspective of school mental health efforts and the Erika's Lighthouse classroom education's role in supporting inclusive school cultures. Data collected can be given to schools and districts upon request, however, please note that this is only available for schools that have had at least 100 students complete surveys for a program. Students |
By using any program or resource you are required to complete our Report on Impact Form.
Level I: We All Have Mental Health (Grades 4-6)
The program covers the difference between everyday feelings vs. overwhelming feelings and promotes good mental health and help-seeking.
Ideal for grades 4-6
Meets the National Health Education Standards #1 ,3, and 7.
In collaboration with the Anna Freud Centre For Children and Families, Erika’s Lighthouse is excited to present We All Have Mental Health.
Level II: Depression Awareness (Grades 5-9)
This program provides an introduction to the topic of depression and promotes good mental health and help-seeking.
Ideal for grades 5-9
Meets the National Health Education Standards #1 ,3, 4 and 7.
Full ProgramDownload the Full Level II Program Lesson One: Intro to DepressionVideo Segment: Vimeo | YouTube | Google Lesson Two: Depression is TreatableVideo Segment: Vimeo | YouTube | Google Lesson Three: Help-SeekingVideo Segment Part 1: Vimeo | YouTube | Google Lesson FourFacilitator Instructions By using any program or resource you are required to complete our Report on Impact Form. |
One-Day LessonBest practice is to use the full four-day lessons above. However, our research has demonstrated an increase in knowledge and help-seeking with only one day. EvaluationStudent | Teacher | School Mental Health Staff Please note we can only provide results for schools that have at least 100 pre- and/or 100 post-surveys completed.
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Level III: Depression Education & Suicide Awareness (Grades 8-12)
This program covers depression & suicide and promotes good mental health and help-seeking.
Ideal for grades 8-12
Meets the National Health Education Standards #1 and 3.
Full ProgramDownload the Full Level III Program Lesson OneVideo Segment Lesson 1: Signs & Symptoms Lesson TwoVideo Segment Lesson 2: Self-Care Lesson ThreeVideo Segment Lesson 3: Getting Help Lesson FourFacilitator Instructions By using any program or resource you are required to complete our Report on Impact Form. |
One-Day LessonBest practice is to use the full four-day lessons above. However, our research has demonstrated an increase in knowledge and help-seeking with only one day. EvaluationStudent | Teacher | School Mental Health Staff Please note we can only provide results for schools that have at least 100 pre- and/or 100 post-surveys completed.
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Optional Program Additions
Good Mental HealthManaging Stress Worksheet (Spanish) Help-SeekingNEW! Supportive Conversations with Peers (Canva | Spanish) |
Depression EducationJeopardy-Style Mental Health Game:
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Empowerment Clubs
Erika's Lighthouse offers opportunities for teens to take on leadership roles in their schools through Empowerment Clubs, Affiliate Clubs and turn-key campaigns called Awareness into Action Activities. These are good mental health clubs that normalize conversations through teen-led conversations by reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking.
Empowerment Club Planning & Implementation
By using any program or resource you are required to complete our Report on Impact Form.
Empowerment Clubs (Official & Affiliate)
Erika’s Lighthouse Empowerment Clubs typically meet weekly or monthly and use Awareness into Action Activities to promote good mental health in their school throughout the year. If you already have an existing good mental health club in your school, join our affiliate club program to access our resources and network with other clubs!
Awareness into Action Activities (AAAs)
Check out these school-wide activities that clubs, educators, or families can use. Many were developed by Erika's Lighthouse and other Teen Empowerment Clubs. Click here and see how you can incorporate AAA's all year-long!
Key Club & SADD Nation Resources
Become an Affiliate ClubWe believe that teens, when given the right tools, can change the world. Consider becoming an Affiliate Club and get access to over 50 Awareness into Action activities that you can use to break down stigma, promote positivity, and remind your peers that they are not alone. Contact Derick if you are interested. Empowerment Club Registration Form Advocacy EffortsEducate Peers and Teens (Canva) Mindful MomentsAromatherapy Play Dough (Canva) You Are Not Alone RemindersBeacon of Hope Door Signs (Canva, Virtual) Education EffortsBe a Lifesaver - Take A Guess (Canva) Positivity PromotersBeacon of Hope Mural (Canva) Raise Funds |
Official Partnership Campaigns and ResourcesSeptember - Suicide Prevention Week May - Mental Health Awareness Month Key Clubs SADD Nation Mental Health Student Leadership AcademySoft Skills: Skills to Help Your Club/Chapter Thrive Middle and High School Training Module II: Being a Trusted Peer Module III: Be a Mental Health Leader Elementary School Training Module II: Being a Trusted Peer Module III: Be a Mental Health Leader |
Policy & Staff Training
Erika's Lighthouse empowers educators, just like students, through education and resources. Students, families and educators deserve good mental health and know they are supported. Staff with good mental health are better equipped to support students. This can be achieved by normalizing mental health and fostering discussions in classrooms.
Policy & Staff Training Planning & Implementation
School-Wide EngagementSchool Culture Framework Plan & ImplementationSchool Policy & Staff Development |
Program EvaluationsOur new pre/post program evaluations are designed to capture a well-rounded perspective of school mental health efforts and the Erika's Lighthouse classroom education's role in supporting inclusive school cultures. Data collected can be given to schools and districts upon request, however, please note that this is only available for schools that have had at least 100 students complete surveys for a program. Students |
By using any program or resource you are required to complete our Report on Impact Form.
Policy & Staff Training
Schoolwide Campaigns
Schoolwide Campaigns offer anyone a way to promote good mental health. They include programs for general educators to implement in their classrooms, Suicide Prevention Week, Mental Health Awareness Month, and resources for bulletin boards, to share with families and other creative uses!
Archived Programs
Depression Awareness for Middle School Students - Original VersionDownload the Full Middle School Program THE MIDDLE SCHOOL VIDEO LESSON ONE LESSON TWO LESSON THREE Modified Middle School Student Workbook |
Depression and Suicide Awareness for High School Students - Original VersionDownload the Full High School Program THE HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO LESSON ONE LESSON TWO LESSON THREE |
Remote Learning ProgramIn collaboration with the Anna Freud Centre For Children and Families, Erika's Lighthouse has created this program so that schools can continue to deliver depression education and lessons on good mental health, even when teaching and learning in remote environments. The Video: English | Spanish | UK Student Bookmark: English (Canva) | Spanish (Canva) Considerations: |
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