Board of Directors,
Executive Council and
Professional Advisory Board



Staff



Teen Board



About Erika

ABOUT ERIKA

Erika's Lighthouse, A Beacon of Hope for Adolescent Depression; we strive to break stigma and educate our community about mental health issues through various community programs

Erika. The impression she left would leave an imprint, in our hearts minds and souls, full of love, wisdom and compassion well beyond her years. Her confident demeanor hid her pain well; no one could detect the battle she was fighting inside.

Those who knew Erika best saw fear replace the brightness in her clear blue eyes. Her breathtaking presence, once full of energy and excitement, dulled as the disease progressed. It drained her physically and mentally, the more she tried to hide it, the worse it became, a burden no fourteen year old should have to bear. The strong, determined young woman, who overcame every obstacle that confronted her, finally succumbed to an illness she didn't understand. My friend took her own life, and those of us who loved her were left with confusion and unanswered questions.

The empty space and pain I felt was unbearable, but a fraction of what she lived with every day. The girl who opened my eyes at ten years old, enlightening me, inspiring me, including me...my friend, was gone, and never coming back. I couldn't tolerate the idea of anyone else suffering silently the way she did. The guilt and ignorance consumed me. I was determined to learn as much as I could about this terrible illness. How many others, like Erika, were fighting and searching for help? Why the embarrassment? What does a friend, parent, or teacher do?

Instead of sitting back and waiting for answers, friends, family and community came together and Erika's Lighthouse was formed. Our foundation would not only raise awareness about the disease, but directly educate teens, parents, teachers and friends. Through our efforts, and networking with various organizations, we have successfully implemented educational programs in schools throughout our area. Our Teen Board reaches out to many young people, with community events and panel presentations. Our Walkathon expands every year, and we continue to explore ways to reach out to those in need.

The pain and loss is still there, but knowing we have helped others gives me hope and inspiration. Too late for my beautiful friend, but not for others, Erika's memory lives on, and her light still shines.