Posts by Katie Conklin

What Should a Tier 1 School Mental Health Approach Include?

What Should a Tier 1 School Mental Health Approach Include? A strong Tier 1 school mental health approach includes universal strategies that promote mental health literacy...

What Is Mental Health Literacy for Students? A Guide for K–12 Schools

What Is Mental Health Literacy for Students? Mental health literacy is the knowledge, understanding, and skills students need to recognize mental health challenges, reduce...

7 Ways Schools Can Encourage Student Help-Seeking

Why Student Help-Seeking Matters Young people spend a significant portion of their lives at school, making schools an important setting for mental health education,...

How to Help School Staff Become Trusted Adults for Students

For many students, having a trusted adult at school can make it easier to ask for help when they are struggling with their mental health. But being a trusted adult is about...

How to Choose a School Mental Health Curriculum

What Works in School Mental Health? Lessons From Reaching 1.7 Million Students Annually

Since 2004, Erika's Lighthouse has partnered with more than 6,200 schools and directly impacted more than 5.5 million students. What began as a local effort has grown into...

School Transition Stress: How Educators Can Help

Transitioning to a new school often causes stress and anxiety because students are navigating unfamiliar environments, new social dynamics, increased academic expectations,...

How Screen Time Affects Teen Mental Health: A Guide for Balance

In an era where digital devices are completely integrated into academic and social lives, finding a healthy equilibrium is one of the most critical challenges facing families...

How School Staff Can Spot and Support Burned-Out High Achievers

In today’s competitive academic landscape, high-achieving students often carry immense pressure to perform. Whether it’s earning perfect grades, securing scholarships, or...

4 Free and Affordable Ways to Support Student Mental Health

In today’s fast-paced academic environment, mental health has become a primary concern for students of all ages. From middle schoolers facing social pressures to high...

When Kids Say “I’m Fine”: How to Recognize Hidden Mental Health Struggles

Many parents have heard it before. You ask how your child is doing, and the response comes quickly and quietly: “I’m fine.” But something feels off. Maybe their mood has...

How Nutrition Impacts Children’s Mental Health and Well-Being

What children eat doesn’t just affect their physical growth; it plays a crucial role in how their brains function, how they feel, and how they cope with stress. According to...