For Supporters

What We Learned Traveling to Advance Youth Mental Health Education

Over the past month, I have traveled across the country to represent Erika's Lighthouse. My goal was to observe new developments in mental health technology, share our...

Corporate Volunteer Engagement in Action: Grainger Partnership

Shining Brighter Together: Introducing Beacons of Hope+

Joining a Community of Action

How Can Schools Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month in May?

What is the Positivity Pledge? The Positivity Pledge is a schoolwide awareness campaign by Erika’s Lighthouse designed for Mental Health Awareness Month in May. It is a...

The Ripple Effect: How Your Stories Power Youth Mental Health

A Shared Mission for Every Student At Erika’s Lighthouse, we sit at the intersection of professional educators and passionate supporters. While our donors provide the fuel,...

Turn Your Next Race into a Mission: Perks of Joining Team Resilience DIY

Your Race, Your Pace, Your Impact Are you training for an Ironman, a triathlon, or a local marathon? With Team Resilience DIY, you don't have to wait for a "signature" race...

How Can Schools Become “Sources of Strength” for Youth Mental Health?

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...

Illuminating Hope: Why It’s Time to Shine A Light on Depression

Depression thrives in the shadows. It grows in silence, isolation, and the feeling that no one else understands. But at Erika’s Lighthouse, we believe that no young...

Empowering Peers: Boost Self-Esteem and Shine a Light this February

Why Student Self-Esteem Matters in Mental Health Students often feel invisible when struggling with their mental health. Low self-esteem frequently acts as a silent...

Impact 2030: Why Investing in Mental Health Literacy is the Future of Education

How is Impact 2030 Transforming Youth Mental Health? The youth mental health crisis is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, with 50% of mental illnesses...

Beacons of Hope: Lighting the Way for Youth Mental Health

We are thrilled to announce that Beacons of Hope has officially launched! You are invited to join an exclusive community of philanthropic leaders dedicated to...

Empowering Youth Mental Health: Joining the Erika’s Lighthouse Professional Community Ambassador Program

In the world of youth mental health, awareness is only the first step. The real work lies in action, education, and community-building. For professionals who are...

Stronger Together: How Strategic Alignments are Revolutionizing School Mental Health

What are S trategic Alignments? Strategic Alignments are purposeful partnerships with organizations that share our commitment to youth wellness. Whether...

Celebrating Team Resilience 2025

Team Resilience 2025 Update The collective energy of Team Resilience has been felt across the globe. We are incredibly proud to celebrate the...

A Lifeline for the Future: Your Year-End Gift Fuels Hope for a Million Students

The year 2025 is coming to a close, a time for reflection on what we’ve achieved together and a moment to look ahead with hope and ambition. The youth mental health...

LISTEN NOW: How One Free Program is Reaching 1 Million Kids Worldwide with Life-Saving Depression Education

💡 The Free Program Reaching 1 Million Kids Worldwide In a world where youth mental health is an ever-growing crisis, one organization is...

See Your Donation in Action: Introducing the Erika’s Lighthouse Impact Calculator

At Erika’s Lighthouse, we believe that every student deserves good mental health. We also believe that every donor deserves to know exactly how their...

The Power of a Monthly Gift: Your Steady Support Makes A Difference All Year Long

At Erika’s Lighthouse, our mission is driven by a powerful vision: to ensure no young person ever feels alone in their depression. We do this by providing free,...

Giving Hope All Year Long: Light the Way for Youth Mental Health This Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is Tuesday, December 2 — a global movement of generosity. But for the young people in our lives, every day presents a critical need for support,...

Reducing Mental Health Stigma for Students and Children | Mental Health Matter: A podcast with LeeAnn Trotter, Katie Conklin, and Candice Florance

Making mental health education a priority in schools isn’t just a good idea; it’s essential. This podcast episode focuses on the effectiveness of Erika’s...

Make-a-Will Month: A Legacy of Hope for Youth Mental Health

August is Make-a-Will Month—a time dedicated to the powerful act of planning for the future. While it may not be a topic we discuss every day, creating a will is...

Erika’s Lighthouse Announces Inaugural Award Recipients

2024-25 Peggy Kubert Model Schools for Mental Health Excellence Erika’s Lighthouse is thrilled to recognize its first cohort of Peggy Kubert Model...

Introducing Beacons of Hope

Join an exclusive community shining a light on youth mental health. At Erika’s Lighthouse, we are dedicated to ensuring every student has the...

2024 Annual Report Snapshot

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Friends, At Erika’s Lighthouse, we believe every student should have the knowledge and tools they need to care for their mental...

Erika’s Lighthouse Recognizes 20 Years of Providing Depression Education and Suicide Prevention Programming to Schools Nationwide

Since Erika’s Lighthouse was founded in 2004, it has touched the lives of more than 2.6 million students. Erika’s Lighthouse, a not-for-profit organization...

Erika’s Lighthouse ’23-’24 Program Report

Erika’s Lighthouse releases an annual program report to highlight the impact that our programs have made in schools nationwide with our Level II and Level III...

Share Your Story

Do you want to share your story and empower others? Erika’s Lighthouse is on a mission to provide free mental health education to any school, anywhere. Erika’s...

Make A Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA to Erika’s Lighthouse

If you are an IRA owner age 70½ or over, you may be eligible to make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA. A QCD is a tax-free distribution from...

A Framework for Culture Change in School Communities

Erika’s Lighthouse believes every school community can be inclusive, empathetic and supportive around mental health. Our framework for promoting inclusive school...

How to Start a Facebook Fundraiser for Erika’s Lighthouse

Erika’s Lighthouse is a nonprofit organization that helps schools provide their students with the skills needed to talk to each other, to their parents,...

Memorials

Erika’s Lighthouse was founded following the loss of a 14-year-old girl who lost her life to her depression. When Erika died, her family and friends felt that the...

Be a Professional Community Ambassador

Erika’s Lighthouse: A Beacon of Hope for Adolescent Depression is a non-profit organization committed to raising awareness about youth mental health in elementary...

Becoming Sources of Strength with Erika’s Lighthouse

Sources of Strength in a School Community Erika’s Lighthouse offers a variety of free resources that can help educators, families, staff and students serve...

Mental Health Literacy in Schools

Erika’s Lighthouse is a beacon of hope for schools seeking to create inclusive and supportive environments where mental health matters. Mental health literacy is...

Team Resilience Marathons & DIY

If you love Erika’s Lighthouse and are looking to combine supporting our mission and your endurance hobbies, then you must join our endurance program, Team...

The Impact – End of Year Giving

In February 2023, the CDC reported that an alarming 22% of young people said they had seriously considered suicide and stated, “The data make[s] it clear that...

Holiday Market Supporting Mental Health

Join us in support of Erika’s Lighthouse this holiday season! Adolescent depression lives in the shadows. Young people facing it feel isolated and dangerously...

State Expansion Through Community Ambassadors

“I am extremely satisfied with Erika’s Lighthouse Program. As a new school social worker, I find their provision of numerous free resources to be invaluable,...

Support Erika’s Lighthouse on Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving that happens on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It’s a chance to celebrate generosity and give back to the causes that...

Staff Training Pillar

What programs or resources are included in Erika’s Lighthouse School Policy pillar? Erika’s Lighthouse offers school communities robust resources around school...

Staff Mental Wellness Highlight

Erika’s Lighthouse believes that practicing good mental health is just as important for educators and administrators as it is for students. Schools can create a...

Erika’s Lighthouse Legacy Society

Erika’s Lighthouse is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and raising awareness about adolescent depression, encouraging good mental health and...

How Using New RECHARGE Program Can Support Student Learning

In today’s fast-paced world, it can be difficult for students to focus for long periods of time. They are constantly bombarded with stimuli, both in and out of the...

Empowerment Club Sponsorship

One in five teens experiences a mental health disorder each year. That’s a lot of young people who are struggling in silence. Erika’s Lighthouse is a non-profit...

As Funds Expire, Equity & Sustainability Are Key

As Funds Expire, Equity & Sustainability Are Key A flurry of recent articles has raised the reality that federal COVID-19 relief funds are set to expire, and their...

Classroom Education’s Impact

We offer a suite of three educational programs designed to allow educators to empower their students with an introduction to mental health, depression literacy,...

The Benefits of Donating Stock to Erika’s Lighthouse

By donating stock to Erika’s Lighthouse, you have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on adolescent depression and ensure school communities have the...

You Are Never Alone: Understanding Teen Depression & Suicide Prevention

September is National Suicide Prevention Month—a time to break the silence, look out for one another, and remind everybody that your mental health matters. If you’ve...

The Four Pillars

Erika’s Lighthouse focuses on equipping school communities with the mental health education needed through four main pillars. Classroom Education, Family...

Portal Sponsorship: The Opportunity to Empower School Professionals Around the Country

You have the opportunity to empower school professionals around the country by sponsoring Erika’s Lighthouse Resource Portal. By focusing on a specific state or...

Erika’s Lighthouse 2022-2023 Program Report

Erika’s Lighthouse is a nonprofit dedicated to providing free turn-key resources to educators to create inclusive school cultures around mental health. Every...

Giving Crypto to Erika’s Lighthouse

Cryptocurrency is one of the fastest-growing types of donations to charities. Over 300 million people hold cryptocurrency, and in 2022, over $125 million was donated...

Minority Mental Health: The Importance of Culturally-Sensitive Care and How Your Donation Can Help

In 2020, suicide was the third leading cause of death for black and African American youth ages 15-19. Mental health disparities among minority groups are a severe...

The Benefits of Using a Donor Advised Fund to Support Mental Health

Erika’s Lighthouse is a nonprofit organization that provides free, donor-funded depression education programming to teens and educators. Our mission is to raise...

Support the Beacon of Hope Golf Classic and Help Fight Adolescent Depression

Depression is a serious mental illness that affects millions of people around the world, including teens. According to the National Institute of Mental Health,...

Key Club Raises Funds to Support Mental Health

The Wilmot Union High School Key Club raised funds to support mental health education by hosting a Snowball Dance at their school. Hello! My name is Katherine...

Support Erika’s Lighthouse in Kind and Volunteering

At Erika’s Lighthouse, we believe in creating a more equitable and inclusive world around mental health. We want every student in every school to have access to mental...

Parenthood

A Heart on the Outside of the Body That is what it’s like having children. That’s what we’re told and we accept that as how it is. However, I am sitting here...

Mental Health Awareness Month: Take the Positivity Pledge

Access Programs The end of the school year is right around the corner and it brings an exciting time for change and new chapters in students’ lives. Erika’s...

Promoting Student Thriving by Connecting SEL and Mental Health

Access Programs Where It Begins For many districts, the path they follow into a more systemic approach to social and emotional learning (SEL) begins with...

Why Educators Must Focus on Student Mental Health

Access Programs Erika’s Lighthouse at SHAPE Florida I heard an amazing presentation on Erika’s Lighthouse curriculum at a conference hosted by SHAPE...

Schools Can Address Mental Health Smarter, Better, Easier

Access Portal Another study. Another confirmation that our youth are struggling with their or their peers’ mental health. In fact, student mental health...

Skills-Based Health Education Beyond the Classroom

Holly Alperin, Ed.M, MCHES, has worked for over 20 years in public health and education. Currently she works at the University of New Hampshire preparing...

Erika’s Lighthouse Update on Adolescent Mental Health: February 2023

Access Programs Erika’s Lighthouse is dedicated to adolescent mental health and our mission of ensuring no young person ever feels alone in their...

The Importance of Reaching Out to a Trusted Adult

Access Programs Trigger Warning: Suicidal Ideation My Story I have always been someone who is afraid of reaching out for help. However, that had to...

Utilizing Tier 1 Universal Supports and Practices to Provide Mental Health Education to All

Nancy Watson (LCSW, CADC) is a psychotherapist at Lake Forest Wellness (Lake Forest, Illinois) specializing in working with children, adolescents, and...

The Power of Programs with Impact Part IV:School Policy & Staff Development

Does the school policy at your school account for students who may be experiencing mental health challenges? Do staff know how to be trusted adults? How do your...

SEL and Mental Health Education Build on One Another

Access Programs Serving Students with SEL During a recent conversation with a colleague who is in charge of social-emotional learning (SEL) for a large...

Educators Speak Out for Erika’s Lighthouse

New Professional Community Ambassadors program is up and running! Our newly launched Professional Community Ambassadors (PCA) program brings together volunteers...

How Culture Affects Mental Health

Patricia Voloschin-Weiner, LCPC has been working as a therapist with children, adults, and couples for the past 30 years and has addressed a variety of...

Strategies to Take Care of Your Mental Health

Access Programs The Basics “You’re not alone,” a phrase so simple yet it’s the hardest to grasp when struggling with mental health. It’s what I like to...

The Power of Programs with ImpactPart III: Family Engagement

Do the family members of your district have the tools and knowledge they need to recognize signs of depression? Are they trusted adults who can address mental...

The Power of Programs with ImpactPart II: Teen Empowerment

When you look at the teens at your school, do you see empowered students who know they can build the school culture they aspire to thrive in? When given the right...

Erika’s Lighthouse Program Report 2021-22

How many students did Erika’s Lighthouse reach this past school year? Erika’s Lighthouse is reaching more students than ever with our evidence-informed programs and...

Reframing the Narrative – Empowering Youth

Access Programs We have heard so much about everyone’s declining mental health – particularly our young people. In our effort to bring attention to this...

Mental Health Education: The Power of Programs with Impact

Erika’s Lighthouse Core Value Series Part 1: Classroom Education Do you think students would benefit from depression and mental health education in your...

CDC Report on Youth Mental Health: The Erika’s Lighthouse Perspective

Access Programs In April, the CDC published a report on youth mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The statistics are grim. But the survey also...

The Erika’s Lighthouse Perspective to the CDC’s Recent Youth Survey on School Connectedness and Mental Health

An examination of the mental health impact of COVID-19 and how connectedness to school, family, friends and community groups impact mental health outcomes. Please...

10 Advantages of Erika’s Lighthouse

Our programs can work in any school community. 1. Wraparound ProgrammingWe don’t just offer a standalone curriculum, we believe in impacting the whole school by...