Key Takeaways
Proven Outcomes: Recent data shows 96% of students now believe it is important to seek help for a friend talking about suicide.
Integrated Support: True community strength comes from the Four Pillars: Classroom Education, Empowerment Clubs, Family Engagement, and Policy & Staff Training.
Early Intervention: 89% of students can now identify the signs and symptoms of depression following our programs.
Building a Culture of Care in Your School Community
Every student deserves good mental health, but achieving this requires more than just a single lesson—it requires a community-wide commitment to being a Source of Strength. When mental health is normalized and stigma is reduced, students feel safe speaking up before a crisis occurs.
In the 2024-25 school year alone, Erika’s Lighthouse reached 1 million students across 49 states. Our evidence-based model ensures that every school, regardless of geography, has access to the same high-quality, free curriculum.
Leveraging the Four Pillars of Mental Health
To serve as a reliable source of strength, school communities must address mental health through our integrated framework:
1. Classroom Education: Skills for Life
Our age-appropriate programs for grades 4-12 teach students that depression is a treatable illness. Our Level III Program for grades 8-12 is recognized on the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s Best Practices Registry.
2. Empowerment Clubs: The Power of Peers
Student-led clubs move “Awareness into Action”. In the past year, we have seen that peer leadership is a primary driver in normalizing mental health conversations, with 93% of students now believing we should be talking about mental health openly.
3. Family Engagement: Bridging the Gap
Strength begins at home. Through our Family Workbook Series (available in English and Spanish), we provide parents with a shared vocabulary to support their children’s emotional well-being.
4. Policy & Staff Training: A United Front
We equip educators to be Trusted Adults. Following our 2024-25 programs, 11% more students reported feeling comfortable talking with a trusted adult about their mental health.
Recognizing Warning Signs: When to Take Action
Part of being a source of strength is knowing when a situation requires professional intervention. Depression can sometimes lead to thoughts of self-harm or suicide. These are symptoms of a serious but treatable disorder, not “choices.”
Key Warning Signs Include:
Talking or writing about death or suicide.
Withdrawing from social circles and family.
Giving away prized possessions.
Sudden, drastic changes in mood or behavior.
If you notice these signs, the most impactful thing you can do is ask directly. Asking “Are you thinking about suicide?” does not plant the idea; it opens a door for life-saving help.
A Bold Vision for 2030
As we complete our Vision 2025 goals, we are looking toward Impact 2030, with a goal to reach 2.5 million students annually. We are committed to making mental health literacy as natural as breathing for the next generation.
Questions and Answers
What makes a school a “Source of Strength” for mental health? A school becomes a source of strength by implementing a culture of care where educators are trained as Trusted Adults, students lead peer-to-peer advocacy, and families are engaged as active mental health partners.
Are Erika’s Lighthouse programs effective? Yes. Our 2024-25 Program Impact Report shows that 91% of students feel they have the information and ability to take care of their mental health after completing our curriculum.
How much do these programs cost? All Erika’s Lighthouse resources, including classroom curriculum, club materials, and staff training, are 100% free for all school communities.
