Classroom Education

A suite of programs designed to allow educators to empower their students with an introduction to mental health, depression-literacy, help-seeking and what it takes to promote good mental health. Focused on grades 4-12, these no-cost, skills-based programs use diverse teen voices to spread awareness and reduce stigma.

We All Have Mental Health

Ideal for grades 4-6
An introduction to mental health by understanding everyday feelings vs. overwhelming feelings with a strong focus on help-seeking and good mental health.

Depression Awareness

Ideal for grades 5-9
An introduction to depression by recognizing signs and symptoms with a strong focus on help-seeking and good mental health.

Depression Education & Suicide Awareness

Ideal for grades 8-12
A deeper discussion about depression and suicide along with a strong focus on help-seeking and good mental health.

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How Erika’s Lighthouse Programs Work For Your School

Free mental health and depression awareness programs designed to create discussion in your classrooms. Comprehensive enough to use immediately. Flexible enough to fit every school.

Every school is different. Our videos, lesson plans, and assessments allow educators to adapt materials according to the needs of their classrooms so that we can forge a healthy environment for students to talk to educators, and to each other.

Ready to Go Materials

Our videos and lessons are completely turnkey: they’re ready for you to use as soon as you set up an account. Opening up begins immediately.

Flexible and Free

Some schools only have a day to discuss mental health. Some schools don’t benefit from small group work. Our material is adaptable to all situations. We want it to work for you.

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School Support

All-inclusive support, at no cost. We work with you on best practices, how to adapt the materials, and how to raise awareness while raising hope.

Skills-Based

Erika’s Lighthouse classroom education programs are skills-based, meeting National Health Education Standards. Curriculum has been written by leading skills-based experts to ensure our programs can meet the needs of classrooms across the country.

While skills-based programs are designed to be part of a broader health education curriculum, they also help students develop important skills that can be used throughout their lives. Our program address standards 1, 3, and 7.

Evidence-Informed

The way young people communicate with each other is always changing. School climate is always changing. Mental health research is always changing. That’s why we’re always changing.

  • Evidence-informed and data-driven – allowing you flexibility to adapt for your classroom
  • Independently evaluated by Dr. Michael S. Kelly, PhD, LCSW, Loyola University
  • Research into our work has been peer-reviewed
Consistent & Flexible
  • Video-based
  • 4 Lessons with 1-day options
  • Flexible to allow for grade level crossover
  • Promote good mental health and help-seeking
  • Utilizing best practices and aligning seamlessly with other programs
  • Ideal for multi-disciplinary implementation within schools
  • Meet requirements for mandated mental health and suicide prevention education in many states
Depression Education is Suicide Prevention

Utilizing an upstream approach, depression education allows school communities to identify MORE students struggling with mental health challenges EARLIER than suicide prevention alone. This can result in early intervention and avoidance of suicidal ideations. Over 96% of students believe anxiety and depression are problems within their school building. Universal education around these topics is important, effective and necessary.

Read more about how we follow best practices in suicide prevention >

Mental Health Impacts the Whole Child

Our programs firmly center on the student, allowing them to find their voices and speak up about mental health. By building up students in their school, they have the ability to share their knowledge with the community around them, and in turn create a whole school and whole community that support their physical and mental health. These building blocks provide students the foundation to succeed and excel academically and socially.

Read more about how we fit within the WSCC Model >

Our Programs Bridge SEL and Mental Health

Social-Emotional Learning is key to student development, but SEL can only accomplish so much. In fact, mental health is an outcome of SEL. Our programs act as a bridge for students to put SEL into practice to benefit their mental health. Working with the CASEL 5 components – Erika’s Lighthouse is helping schools to easily build on their programs and establish good mental health behaviors for students.

Recent Blog Posts

The program is comprehensive in that it provides a thorough and scientific understanding of depression, explores and clears away the negative stigma associated with mental illness, provides guidance on how to seek help for oneself and a friend, and addresses the importance of adopting and maintaining healthy coping mechanisms to combat everyday stressors. Students share with me that they are grateful for the education, practical tools, and permission to discuss mental health issues in a way that is authentic, hopeful, and empowering.

Nancy Watson, LCSW, CADC

Social Worker, Lake Forest Country Day School

Taking the stigma out of adolescent depression is our passion and our expertise.

You’re the experts on your students. We’ll meet you where you are, and help empower teens to take charge of their mental health. Access our free programs today.

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Erika's Lighthouse Programs Are Near You

Our evidence-informed, depression awareness education programs are spreading around the world. See if a school or organization near you is utilizing Erika's Lighthouse Classroom Programs.

Help us reach students in your community by becoming a Community Ambassador today >