Free K-12 Mental Health Curriculum & Programs

A Full Suite of Tier-1 Programs, Free

Erika’s Lighthouse provides busy educators with a full suite of preventative, skills-based programs designed to meet the mental health needs of every student — at zero cost.

The Four Pillar Model

Every school — and every student — benefits from programs that address these four pillars:

Classroom Education
Empowerment Clubs
Family Engagement
Policy & Staff Training

Erika’s Lighthouse programs encompass all four pillars for a holistic approach to ending the youth mental health crisis.

I hope that this message finds you well and that you are having an excellent Mental Health Awareness Month! NCCVT has been promoting, supporting and engaging with Erika’s Lighthouse Positivity Pledge as one of our Mental Health Awareness Activities. In regard to our HB301 programming, NCCVT is going to continue to utilize Erika’s Lighthouse programming for the 2025-2026 school year, and efforts are already underway to support planning and relaunch for next year.

Hazel

School Professional from Delaware

Great thank you, we love the program and can tell that it helps our students too!

Riley

School Counselor from Delaware

We have actually used the one-day lesson for each grade at our school. I loved the material and I think it did a really good job connecting with our students. I plan to explore other lessons and resources on the website!

Anthony

School Counselor from Missouri

I am able to empathize more and understand the role I can play to get others help.

Madelyn

Student

The specific program we are using is the Level II- we broke up the lessons into the 3 days that were provided (signs and symptoms of depression, help seeking, coping strategies). The majority of our student population here is Asian American so the student stories (specifically Mason and Lindsay) have been very relatable and helpful!!!!!

Kelly Backus

Health Educator from New York

This program is evidenced-based, easy to understand, free, and seems to require little prep. It offers empowerment club options for students who are further interested in doing suicide prevention work. It offers family engagement strategies which is a huge component to successful suicide prevention work. I appreciate the "whole school culture" component as well as that is vital to implementing systemic changes in schools. There is representation of diverse group of young people in the slides and videos, and offers options for no gender identity disclosure. There are updated resources, such as national crisis line. It's available in English and Spanish!!

Nova

School Professional from Oregon

We implemented some of the lessons this year and had some positive feedback. New, fresh, and easy-to-follow lessons were appreciated by our teachers. Thank you for the support!

Luca

School Counselor from Tennessee

It was incredibly inspiring to hear of the resources and service project opportunities Erika's Lighthouse provides. The Beacon of Hope door signs intrigued me the most, and I decided I wanted to implement that at my school!

Aubrey

Student from Maine

It has shifted my perspective of depression and also taught me of some of the signs of depression that I can recognize in friends so I can get support them and help them get proper treatment

Broadie

Student

What drew me to Erika’s Lighthouse wasn’t simply the opportunity to run the Chicago Marathon. It was the organization’s mission to educate young people, families, and educators about mental health, reduce stigma, and provide support before someone reaches a crisis point. That mission is deeply personal to me. I lost my younger brother after a long battle with mental health challenges and substance use, and I often think about how access to education, support, and open conversations surrounding mental health during his school years could have made a difference. Being able to run in his memory while supporting an organization whose mission aligns so closely with my family’s experience is truly an honor.

Santiago

Team Resilience Participant

I appreciate YOU!! Folks are still reaching out about how great your webinar was and the materials are being accessed in our Social Work Resource Library!!

Dr. J.R. Bullard-Batiste

School Professional

I hope this finds you doing well!!! We were able to use Ericka’s Light House Curriculum (Level III) with our high school students. It was phenomenal!! What a gift to be able to use it. It was well put together, easy to use and covered just the right information.

Willow

School Counselor from Ohio

We have always felt supported by the amazing people at Erika's Lighthouse! We always receive quick responses to our questions and they are always willing to help!

Layla

School Professional

I need to tell you how excellent your training is. Two years ago, I lost my first student to suicide. I was devastated. I didn't know the signs. I didn't know how to help if I would have seen the signs. I felt helpless. I would have paid for your training. I'm sharing with fellow teachers and my administration. Thank you. Thank you so much for being a source of hope.

Maya

School Professional from Minnesota

I just wanted to let you know that we taught the Level III program to our 11th graders on Monday. Today we are doing the Level II program for all of our 7th graders. We love the program!

Jayden

School Counselor from Pennsylvania

Attached is our completed data for the Dubuque Community School District. In talking with the counselors, they all feel Erika's lighthouse is valuable, quality curriculum! Thank you for sharing it with us. Have a great summer!

Ava

Administrator from Iowa

I used this for approximately 115 students. I had a student come up to me toward the end of this and tell me that she has been able open up to her therapist (she's missed a TON of school) and get hard things off of her chest that she has been carrying. I honestly do not know if she has missed a school day since we started that lesson two weeks ago.

Mia

School Professional from Indiana

I work as a school psychologist for CPS, and my school just started implementing the Erika's Lighthouse curriculum to 6-8th graders a few weeks ago. Getting to educate people first hand on what this curriculum is all about has been such a rewarding experience, and I love that I get to be a part of this movement both inside the school and outside!

Claire

School Counselor from Illinois

We actually just used the program for our Mental Health Wellness Day this past Wednesday. Students and staff really loved the content!

Addison

School Counselor from Kentucky

I always aim to pair the topic with actionable wellness activities Club Advisors can take back to their club/school campus — and that’s where “Take a Compliment” activity came into play. We truly enjoy incorporating Erika’s Lighthouse into our programming. We consistently encourage Club Advisors to explore your resources, register as an official or affiliate club, and integrate materials from the four (4) pillar model into their schools.

Miles

School Social Worker

I used several slides from the staff trainings to do a professional development session with our school staff and ended our session with a round of the mental health bingo. It was a great closing to a heavy topic. I did complete the impact form to report on what I used. Thank you for your offering in partnership, will be sure to reach out if questions arise!

Penelope

School Professional from California

Students have the option of three writing prompts. Two have to deal with either direct or indirect experiences with depression. The third option is to summarize what was in the video and discuss three important points other students should know. Some students don't feel comfortable writing about their own experiences or don't have any to write about which is why we provide this third option. Students seem to really enjoy the video either way! They often mention how they like the different representation of students, especially the young man who talks about having to 'wear the pants' in the family.

Logan

Health Educator from New York

The information is accurate. I led a parent workshop on April 26th for the PTA of our school. About 25 parents attended and a couple of them have more than one child in our school. I used the "We all have Mental Health" PPT Presentation for this workshop. Thank you for the wonderful resources available on your website. I look forward to using more of the products in the next school year.

Joseph Pena

School Counselor from New York

Thank you SO much. The feedback has been incredibly positive, our staff reported that they learned so much and found the training so valuable and much more related to their work relative to the previous trainings.

Eleanor

School Professional from California

I am half way through. I think it is very well laid out. I am using this for the 6th grade level and I see that it is 4th-6th. It is a bit "little kid" but the kids haven't said anything and a part of me thinks it is almost more appropriate. I've enjoyed the logistical side, the colorful handouts and just the ease of implementing it. Thank it. I will fill out the form when we are done!!

Daniel

Health Educator from Oregon

I am very thankful for you and the team who created this program and made it available for us. I am glad I got to know it in one of ISCA's workshops.

Elena

School Counselor from International

Our middle and upper school counselors did do a faculty/staff training on suicide prevention just before spring break. It was a great presentation, and teachers appreciated the examples on how to talk to a student. Again, thanks for your support and we’ll be in touch if we need more.

Joshua

School Professional

I very much appreciate your resources b/c they are wonderful and free!!! We are a small 1A school in Kansas and typically don't have a lot of funds for resources such as this!

Lillian

School Counselor

This workshop shares great tips on what we can do to help children who are experiencing depression or thoughts of suicide. The power of listening to what our children have to say when it comes to their mental health, can be the difference between a moment of sadness or a lifelong battle with depression

Omayra Nieves

School Professional from Illinois

I am no longer teaching Health, so I won't be a part of your fabulous curriculum. I really liked the entire program and so did the kids I used it with. They were 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. I am forever a fan and if there's any way I can help "get the word out" for Erika's Lighthouse please contact me.

Ethan

Health Educator from Minnesota

In the month of September the high school mental health clinician utilized the Give Voice tools to educate around Suicide Awareness at the Tier 1 schoolwide level. At our high school, we just engaged in a High School Student Safety Training day that included all 9-12th graders engaging in safety education in seminar type classes around physical and emotional health including CPR/AED/First AID-stop the bleed, Erika's Lighthouse Level III Depression Education & Suicide Awareness, and school violence prevention with OK2Say presenting. Time was also spent practicing a fire drill, tornado drill, lockdown drill, and evacuation procedures. This was the first time I facilitated the classroom education presentation, but found it to be a great fit for what we wanted to educate our students on today. I am looking forward to seeing the data from the Pre and Post Education Surveys! We also will be moving forward with connecting regarding beginning an Empowerment Club. I am truly appreciating the data connection for our prevention efforts around student mental health that Erika's Lighthouse provides! Thank you!

Devon Raap

School Social Worker from Michigan

We used the Level II program in October. It was a great success! We saw a large jump in understanding (81%) in knowledge of depression symptoms across all three grade levels.

Isaac

School Counselor from New Hampshire

I am totally going to start using these resources with my therapy clients outside of school too (I am a LPC Candidate here in Oklahoma outside of school hours). Thank you so much- Erika's Lighthouse is a wonderful organization!

Nathan

School Social Worker from Oklahoma

We used the Level 2 platform/curriculum from Erika’s Lighthouse this fall in our mental health unit in health class with our entire student body (49 students). The student stories were especially helpful and engaging, as their diverse experiences really resonated with our students. The program prompted some incredible class conversations and reflections, and we feel it has fostered a lasting understanding of depression and suicide awareness. We’re grateful for the resources Erika’s Lighthouse provides—thank you for making this program accessible!

Charles

School Counselor from Kentucky

I just finished one lesson for 7th graders, approximately 80 students. I appreciate many aspects of the lessons, but the self-referral cards, which are distributed each year, help put our students in contact with our school counselors, and I am always grateful.

Michael

Health Educator from California

"I am so happy and satisfied with the Erika's Lighthouse Program. I am a new school social worker, so the fact that they provide so many resources for FREE is truly a lifesaver, and makes it so much more accessible. They provide step by step instructions and training on how to successfully implement the program. You can tell from the program and the organization's mission that they genuinely support mental health and suicide awareness/prevention, which is truly admirable. I think it is so important for students to hear from other students about their experiences, especially from different backgrounds and perspectives, and this program does that!"

Sarah

School Social Worker from Illinois

I can't express just how much this support means to me as it allows for our kids to access programming and initiatives that they wouldn't otherwise be able to."

Mateo

School Professional from Washington

After teaching the lessons, I see a large increase in students self-reporting and reports regarding friends/classmates who they have noticed some changes with and think they need check-ins from the counselor. The program has a positive impact on students becoming more aware about mental health and importance of addressing it sooner than later. It is slowly taking away the "stigma" of seeking help from counselors or trusted adults at school. My work load increased significantly after the lessons, yet I don't mind because my students are noticing and addressing their mental health in a positive and healthy manner. I am thankful for all the work that is happening with the program!

Grace

School Counselor from International

I love promoting good mental health through lessons and activities and have been super proud of my club members for wanting to do the same!!

Jill, Professsional Community Ambassador

School Social Worker from Kansas

I think my ability to help someone has definitely improved and I now know to seek help if I think they need it.

Valentina

Student

Wonderful! Thanks so much! We don't have a counseling budget at the school so I am so grateful for the support for our kiddos.

Brooke Fox

School Professional

I happened to go on to the ELH site to dig around again. I had never looked deeply to the dashboard. Wow is all I have to say. Very impressive.

Jonathan

School Social Worker from Minnesota

We love using Erika's lighthouse for our mandatory Suicide and depression materials to get out to students and families and have been using this program for several years now. We appreciate you for allowing us to continue to use the programming for our district.

Jack

School Professional from Kentucky

I am more open minded and more comfortable with talking and opening up about this topic.

Roman

Student

I am so grateful to have had the privilege of providing our students with Erika's Lighthouse programming! It has made a world of difference in the lives of many of our students who use the information and insights to help themselves and others. I am amazed at how the program has developed and all of the excellent resources that are provided. I know the district is planning to continue using the program and possibly expanding the use of it so I am very happy about that! I am getting excited about retirement - after 34 years in education, I'm ready for my summer to be home and family focused. However, presenting the Erika's Lighthouse lessons is one of the things I will miss greatly. Thank YOU all for all you do - you are truly making a difference!

Julian

School Counselor from Illinois

I am using the Erika's Lighthouse resources in my 6th grade health classes as a way to end our mental health unit. These resources have served as great learning tools for our classroom.

Avery

Health Educator from Ohio

My colleagues and I presented to faculty and staff at the at professional development sessions at each of our schools with the plan for incorporating mental health programming into the 2024-2025 school year. Faculty and staff in NCCVT continue to register for Erika’s Lighthouse and complete the introductory training. They also have access to the implementation video and teacher reference guide. Our Instructional Coaches have created Schoology folders for faculty that will be delivering the content. They have also created a Schoology Course for our students. As a district, we have framed our movement forward with adopting and implementing Erika’s Lighthouse mental health programming as an ‘all hands on deck’ endeavor. Moving beyond legislative compliance, we are utilizing the resources from your organization to increase the mental health literacy of our students and to further build the capacity of our faculty and staff to recognize potential mental health needs and refer to the best possible resource for support. Draft parent/family letters to parents, with embedded links to resources, have been prepared in English and Spanish (based on the templates provided on the Erika’s Lighthouse website)

Sophia

School Professional from Delaware

We shared the Conversation Cards with our families in our May Mental Health Awareness Month counseling newsletter that was shared with all of our families. We have 1707 students enrolled with us. It seemed like the easiest lift for our busy families and we appreciated the multiple languages. Thanks!

Grayson

School Counselor from Washington

I am piloting it in one of my 5th grade classrooms. I have 17 students and they are really enjoying it. It is sparking great conversations. I am hoping to implement with all my 5th grade next year. As a school counselor I enjoy it and students are relating to it so much. Thank you!

Henry

School Professional from South Dakota

I am excited to have ELTEC back at OLHMS. To be honest, the students will not let this club falter and demand its return! We have 20 students signed up for ELTEC this year!

Oliver

School Professional

Emily

Health Educator from Oregon

meeting new people and knowing that I was helping many people along the way

Ezekiel

Student

I love your programs! We have a small school in Northeast Ohio and I present your programing every year to our 6,7, and 8th grade students. I also use the Positivity pledge every year and make it a fun event for the students to participate as much as possible. This year they are painting stones for week 3 that can be placed around our school yard to remind everyone how important they are to us. Thank you for all that you provide to us

Violet

School Counselor from Ohio

This program kept me interested and informed and I really appreciate that I can now help myself or someone I know who may be struggling with depression.

Colton

Student

We will be using Erika's lighthouse. We have used ADAP in the past, but I just feel that the stories and the materials you have to offer are much more relevant and relatable to our kids. I do not have any questions at this time, the website and resources are great.

Evelyn

School Professional from Illinois

For our PD I used the staff training video, it was amazing!!!

Thomas

School Counselor from Missouri

We are truly grateful for the wonderful resources you provide through the Erika’s Lighthouse website. Starting this academic year, our school will be using your materials in our homeroom program. We believe they will be a meaningful support for our students, and we are thankful in advance for the positive impact they will bring to our community. Thank you for your dedication and investment in students’ well-being.

Mila

School Counselor from International

And btw, I LOVE the resource portal...saves soo much work finding activities on our own.

Amelia

School Professional from Kentucky

I’m not sure how often you get to hear the impact your work is having day to day, so I wanted to share a story with you of something that happened today. Four 8th graders stopped into my office to express concern over some things a friend had been posting on social media. I know this child has struggled with depression in the past (he self referred after an Erika’s lighthouse lesson a couple of years back) but his peers don’t know that. One of the students said “we are just worried about him because we remembered those symptoms of depression we learned from Erika’s Lighthouse (she actually remembered the name of the program because she’s been getting the lessons since 5th grade) and he seems to check a lot of the boxes”. I have known that the program has changed SN for a while now based on how many kids come talk to us about their own depression or with concerns about peers. But this was the first time a student actually identified the impact your specific program made on them. They got their last lesson in May 2023, so the information stuck with them for that long.

Johanna Jacobson

School Counselor

I feel more confident to help someone or guide someone who has depression

Hunter

Student

Like many, running has been an incredible buoy for my own mental health. When I ran my first marathon in 2017, it felt only natural to partner with Erika’s Lighthouse. This year will be my 7th year running in support of ELH, and it continues to be an incredible way to alchemize the complex feelings that can come with taking care of your mental health, or supporting your family and friends in a similar journey. Donating to Erika’s Lighthouse is an investment in the resiliency of our youth, and a collective rising tide that believes mental health matters. Thank you for supporting our mission.

Axel

Team Resilience Participant

All the people and making friends! and also how we collaborated and shared new ideas to help are school community with mental health!

Leilani

Student

We are using the one day depression education lesson in high school ROTC and 11th grade health classes. We added two of the program addition activities to break up the lesson and include an interactive, skill-building component - 'Having Supportive Conversations with Peers' and 'Text from a Friend'. We are receiving positive feedback from students and the team who facilitated the material.

Jackson

School Professional

At the Advancing School Mental Health Conference, I stopped by the Erika's Lighthouse table and I loved the RECHARGE 5 minute classroom break cards! So awesome! I also loved that it talked about a mental health boost - such great language to use (versus mindfulness - which is also good but can have a negative connotation to it for some educators).

Leo

School Professional from Kentucky

The program has been very well-received by both our staff and students. The materials are engaging, age-appropriate, and have been effective in starting important conversations about mental health. The teachers love the program because it is easy to implement while also providing quality instruction. Thank you again for keeping these essential programs free for school communities like ours. We look forward to using Erika's Lighthouse resources again this year.

Hannah

School Counselor from Kentucky

We did the lesson to about 500 total 8th grade students between the two schools. We all loved the student stories and students seemed to really be invested and participated in discussion when we got to the student stories.

Josiah

School Counselor

I LOVE Erika's Lighthouse and everything it is about. I was just telling another counselor about how I used it last year and had teachers with their lighthouses outside their classroom doors, etc. Of course, because of my name, it caught my attention and then, I just went from there. 🙂 Thank you for your support!!!

Erika

School Counselor from South Carolina

This year, I’ve incorporated some activities from the Erika’s Lighthouse resources page into various Life Skills and Values lessons for our students. I’ve also used specific activities, such as the "Footprints to the Counselor’s Office" and the "Take a Compliment" poster, to promote awareness and support. In total, these activities have reached approximately 300 middle school students across grades 6-8

Eliana

School Counselor from International

My ability to help someone with depression has completely changed after the Erikas Lighthouse Program because I can see signs of depression, and I know who to call if I or someone else needs help.

Cameron

Student

Thank you all for providing such great resources for our students!

Wyatt

School Professional from Georgia

We have been using these materials and so appreciate them. Everything from the parent letter down to the self-referral. Thank you so much for this

William

Administrator

I love this data center. We should aspire to have a data center like this.

Isla

School Professional

The other day, I had printed out the document for tearing off a positive quote. The students at my school have already used them up!

Brooklyn

School Professional from South Dakota

Your site is filled with a variety of helpful tools. I'm the PK-5th grade principal. How do other elementary schools utilize your resources? I watched the suicide and depression staff training. It was very beneficial and thought provoking.

David

Administrator from Oklahoma

My favorite part of being in our Empowerment Club is] being in a very nice community who all care about fighting the stigma

Savannah

Student

Thank you!!!! The results are super helpful, and I like having the data as another talking point as to why these conversations matter!! I appreciate ALL that you do to support teen mental health 😊

Carter

School Counselor from Ohio

Erika's lighthouse gave me real insight through the stories of the people in the video.

Kennedy

Student

Love the updates to the resource portal. We are going to be down a social worker this year in my building so I am going solo this year. Due to my services in the building being reduced, I have already completed my Depression Awareness presentation with my junior high students and was grateful to be able to use the website in the presentation. I also utilize some of the resources you have on the portal in some of my small groups too for some of my kids that are struggling with anxiety, depression and mood regulation. Lots of great resources so thank you!

Nolan

School Social Worker

I LOVE the resources and ideas presented at last week’s meeting. I came specifically so I could learn about the legislation mentioned in the title, but was just blown away with your website, and all the offerings. This school year we began hosting monthly webinar with our MTSS team called “BreakDown” and follow our resource, “BreakDown MTSS Planning Matrix” with monthly mental health topics and Tier One resources that support students, staff, families and local community events. I’m always looking for motivating ideas for activities that that improve culture on campus, and feel like the work being done by Erika’s Lighthouse is such an inspiration to me.

Kym Barber

School Professional

I am now more open minded towards those suffering with depression and I also now have better references to refer friends to seek help.

Aurelia

Student

We were scheduled to do a different two part lesson on depression but Erika's Lighthouse was a much better fit for our sophomores. We used the first lesson in its entirety and did lessons 2 and 3 as a combination as we had enough time.

Britta

School Counselor from Illinois

From a counselor position, this organization is amazing and I very much appreciate all it's doing to better the lives of our youth

Kat

School Professional from Illinois

Working with Erika's Lighthouse has been such a positive and meaningful experience for our students at West Leyden. A team of us in the Student Services department collaborate with our Freshman Health teachers to deliver the content to the entire class. Half of our freshmen take Health first semester and half take it second semester so we go in twice a year. This year, we had the Health teachers start off day one with the video and then facilitate a classroom discussion. For the second day, we bring in the Peer Leaders to lead the students in small groups. Another counselor and I co-sponsor the Peer Leaders program for our school so we have about 25-30 students who are natural leaders and are perfect for the job. Within the small groups the students read the stories from the students featured in the video. They also answer the questions from the packets together. We find that having student leaders involved helps bring a different perspective to the lesson. It shows our freshmen that students in the building care about depression and suicide and are willing to speak on the subject. Day three of the program includes our Social Workers going into the classroom and using the day three portion of the lesson. They provide information on who to go to in the school building or outside in the community for help with depression or suicide ideation. I am so grateful to Erika's Lighthouse for developing such a comprehensive set of lessons. The videos have been very enlightening to our students and the handouts provide additional information that truly bring the stories to life. Because there is a range of individuals with different circumstances featured on the video, our students have really been able to identify with the youth on the video. This connection is so critical to educating young people on overcoming the stigma of getting help for mental health issues. I am also thankful that Erika's Lighthouse has been so supportive of our school and our interpretation of their curriculum. Because of Erika's Lighthouse we have been able to focus on delivery and assistance and not on developing curriculum. Thank you, Erika's Lighthouse!

Shaina

School Professional from Illinois

The information is accurate. I led a parent workshop on April 26th for the PTA of our school. About 25 parents attended and a couple of them have more than one child in our school. I used the We all have Mental Health PPT Presentation for this workshop. Thank you for the wonderful resources available on your website. I look forward to using more of the products in the next school year.

Joseph

School Counselor from New York

One thing I learned: how to help my family that mental health is normal is that if a person you know has a metnal health needs help them out be confident to talk to someone if you're feeling down I love learning mental health it's so fun! LOL be inspirational and say 'if you think someone is having problems, go talk to them. Stress is a normal feeling and you are not alone' To always love yourself!

Kira

Student from California

Erika’s Lighthouse was embraced sincerely by all youth, faculty and administrators this past year. I am personally very attached to this phenomenal program. In fact, our evaluator reported the 2020-2021 results are good from the pre & post tests. I will meet with her next week to hear the positive news officially. I have loved and enjoyed every minute of teaching Erika’s Lighthouse. I have the utmost respect for this most important message. In fact, after teaching several prevention programs for eleven (11) years through the Substance Awareness Center, Erika’s Lighthouse is the most important program. Every school district should be offering Erika’s Lighthouse. I am very attached to the mission and message of this extraordinary program which saves lives. Thank you!

Christina

Community Partner from Florida

Hi there. We were able to present to 385 out of 386 5th grade student in the Neosho Middle school. This material was more grade appropriate than our previous material. There were less false positives with our exit tickets. We will be using this course with our 5th grade students from here on out.

Thaddeus

School Counselor from Missouri

I was so impressed with the lessons. I was able to include them in my HS health unit this Fall. I showed the video clip which had teen examples that engaged the students and I did the mini poster project and I liked how students responded to the scenarios. I was so grateful that the program was free and easy to implement. NYS mandated health educators to focus more on mental health topics and the curriculum met our new standards.

Donna

School Professional from New York

I just trained our Freshman using the Erika's Lighthouse Cirriculum and wanted to pass that along to you since I know that you keep track of the numbers. It conintues to be a helpful and impactful video for our students. I am so appreciative, as always!

Terri

School Professional from Illinois

It has shifted my perspective of depression and also taught me of some of the signs of depression that I can recognize in friends so I can get support them and help them get proper treatment

Talon

Student

We are just trying to get the kids to be aware that we as a school care about their mental health. We're doing it to show we know it's there, we can help them if it makes it difficult to learn and also it's getting students to connect with their friends over the walk

Alicia

School Social Worker from Illinois

Sasha and Andre where stress so they Sasha told her mom about it so they watched movies and it calmed her stress for Andre he didn't tell anyone he only told Sasha Sasha told him to watch movies with friends but for Andre it didn't work So he decided to tell his teacher And his teacher told him to do something and Andre stress went away.

Cassian

Student from California

I think this program helped me a lot and made this topic more understandable to me.

Cyrus

Student

Students throughout Los Angeles Unified School District have received Erika’s Lighthouse curriculum and have engaged in learning about teen depression, stigma associated with mental health, and coping skills. The program is easily accessible and provides all the materials needed for implementation. The students, school staff and parents that have been provided with the lessons have expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the program.

Ely

School Professional from California

i used to think that depression was not like a real thing and that people where just coming up with excuses to get out of stuff but now i realize that it is a real problem and people who have it actually need help

Talia

Student

We still use Erika’s Lighthouse for our yearly mental health curriculum. Our students enjoy the interactive lessons and I feel our district have come a long way in our education since employing your curriculum. We will continue to use your resources for as long as i am here.

Scott

School Professional from Illinois

This program is very educational and helped me know the symptoms and how to help someone with depression.

Silas

Student

Thank you Erika’s Lighthouse for continuing to partner with us as we use the classroom program. It is a vital part of our Health unit when we cover Mental Health. We really appreciate that counselors have built a successful partnership with our Health teachers due to this program.

Helen

School Professional from Illinois

I use your materials with our upper schoolers and LOVE your programming.

Veda

School Professional

Wonderful! Thanks so much! We don't have a counseling budget at the school so I am so grateful for the support for our kiddos.

Brooke

School Counselor from Washington

These assesments are amazing! My students are sending me in thier projects and they really enjoy having the choice for an assessment and the assessments being submitted are so creative! My 10th graders are doing Level III and my 7th graders are submitting Level I. They are almost finished with the Level II lessons and thye are picking up so much. Thank you again!

Meagan

School Professional from New York

This program was very helpful to me because I learned many strategies on how I can help others and myself if I am in this type of situation.

Kendra

Student

I appreciate YOU!! Folks are still reaching out about how great your webinar was and the materials are being accessed in our Social Work Resource Library!!

J.R.

Community Partner

Good Morning! We have completed ELH at all the schools! It went beautifully and ELH had a great impact on the students. Many students reached out for help as a result of ELH! Thank you for all your help!

Jill

School Professional from Florida

It taught me to make sure too take depression seriously and look for signs of depression in my community and too be there for them.

Ophelia

Student

Social Worker and Counselors love the videos and the simple and clear way the information is provided. In meeting with some middle schoolers after the presentation I heard It was really good to know about depression and now I feel like I can help others

Xavier

Administrator from Kansas

Omayra

School Professional from Illinois

Erika's lighthouse gave me real insight through the stories of the people in the video.

Gareth

Student

Each day at PJ23 School, we read the daily reminder about the Positivity Pledge calendar for that given day. At PJ23, we highlight Mindfulness Monday, Wellness Wednesday and Faithfulness Friday, and the Positivity Pledge calendar paired brilliantly with that. Additionally, we have a commitment to healthy bodies, minds and souls and we strive to put an emphasis on mental health awareness. Thank you, Erika's Lighthouse, for your great resources and for your partnership

Molly

Administrator from Illinois

I feel more confident to help someone or guide someone who has depression

Sabrina

Student

We are incredibly appreciative for our partnership with Erika's Lighthouse and all of the work that you do! Thanks for being awesome!

Callum

School Professional from Virginia

I want you all to know that our suicide attempt rate as measured by the YRBS, went down from 14.3% to between 5.4-7.2% since using your videos and the messages from your curriculum. We continue to be very impressed by your videos, website, and curriculum.

Michael

School Professional from Wisconsin

I am the school social worker at Lake Forest Country Day and have relied on Erika's Lighthouse programming materials and resources to educate our middle school students about depression awareness since 2012. 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. Additionally, I appreciate the flexibility that the program offers concerning the ability to roll it out entirely or split into segments to accommodate school scheduling needs. Finally, our families are grateful for the education provided to their children around these important issues and the parent resources that I share with them from Erika's Lighthouse website. Depression in adolescents has increased and schools are uniquely situated to provide protective factors to students by providing the essential education that Erika's Lighthouse offers.

Nancy

School Professional from Illinois

we should be inspirational and say if you think someone is having problems, go talk to them. stress is a normal feeling and you are not alone.

Celeste

Student from California

This program is a very helpful way to for people to understand depression and how to help and support people who have it.

Rowan

Student

I am more open minded and more comfortable with talking and opening up about this topic.

Balthazar

Student

I am so happy and satisfied with the Erika's Lighthouse Program. I am a new school social worker, so the fact that they provide so many resources for FREE is truly a life saver, and makes it so much more accessible. They provide step by step instructions and training on how to successfully implement the program. You can tell from the program and the organization's mission that they genuinely support mental health and suicide awareness/prevention, which is truly admirable. I think it is so important for students to hear from other students about their experiences, especially from different backgrounds and perspectives, and this program does that!

Sarah

School Professional from Illinois

I am able to empathize more and understand the role I can play to get others help.

Ezra

Student

be confident to talk to someone if your feeling down.

Tristan

Student from California

I am using this program this year! I am so excited to implet it! Thank you! Your presentation was my favorite at the conference!

Rhys

School Professional from New York

On a side note, I just would like to share we have been implementing lessons and have been able to support and reach students that would typically fly under the radar. We are grateful for the partnership with your program!

Mike

School Professional from Illinois

I recently had a seemingly well-adjusted student with strong grades, plenty of friends, involved and supportive family, who indicated on their self-referral exit ticket in my class that he needed to speak with a mental health care worker in the next 24 hours. The counselor had never met with him before; barely knew who he was because he never appeared to struggle. Turns out he not only had struggled with suicidal thoughts for some time, he had a complete plan for following through. I am so grateful I met Erika's Lighthouse at our Indiana SHAPE (INSHAPE) conference in 2019 . Your lessons, materials, videos, and teaching guides gave me confidence to approach mental health in a way that reduces stigma… something I always wanted to do but didn’t know how. Students getting these Erika’s Lighthouse lessons hear so clearly that everyone deserves good mental health, and there is hope and help for those who are struggling, whether those struggles make sense or not. Absolute life saver for these kids!

Cassie

Health Educator from Indiana

This program doesn’t need any improvement its a great resource and safe space for those who need it.

Beatrice

Student

I have been meaning to contact you about how much I enjoyed this year's curriculum and think it is the best one thus far! I used the ELH Level 3 with my freshman health classes in December. I love it! I love the posters and having the students present about the six teens they learned about, which I hung in the classroom (please see the attachment). I needed something colorful and bright to cover up the partition between the two classrooms. My supervisor was observing me on this day, and he indicated that it was one of the best lessons he had seen. Now that everything is available to use in Google and customizable, it makes the teacher's life a bit easier; thank you for that. I also love the Performance Assessment and that you included a rubric and gave the student choices. I was amazed by some of the products my students put forth. Some students asked if they could do a news article for option two and a few students inquired about writing a letter to a friend instead of a voice message. I love the creativity that this allowed for them to do. I posted our assignment on Schoology, our district's Learning Management System. I had 3 ELL students, so some of the Spanish materials you provided were very helpful to use. Thanks to Erika's Lighthouse for producing such an excellent and necessary curriculum!

Jill

School Professional from New Jersey

I really appreciate the work you all do to make these resources available for free and easily adaptable to fit the needs of various students. I also appreciate that the resources are made using the stories of actual students who have gone through mental illness ...it definitely makes the videos and tools so much more real and relevant to the students!

Vance

School Social Worker from Illinois

I think this program is very good because it provides examples from teens that I can relate to.

Genevieve

Student

this program helps a lot of people pay attention to the symptoms if one of your friends have depression

Amara

Student

Most teachers in grades 7-8 and Health 1 said they planned to field test Erika's Lighthouse in lieu of the currently approved suicide prevention curriculum they normally use in those grades. They said they thought the Erika's Lighthouse curricula was more accessible for teachers and more relatable to students than the programs they've used in the past. Thank you for having a skills-based program available at no cost.

Lucian

School Professional from Oregon

The spirit and energy of the club members was great, and their positivity and drive to promote mental health and wellness was incredible.

Julian

School Professional from Illinois

I have been using your lessons for roughly 6 years and love the flow. Thank you so much for easy to understand lessons that have so much power and impact on our students.

Siena

School Professional from Ohio

Freya

School Social Worker from Illinois

From Erika’s Light House I learned that I like to do mindfulness because It makes me feel good and good. and also Happy. I Love It so much.

Felix

Student from California

Thank you, Peggy! The presentation was educational for all staff members. We hope to implement both programs this academic year!

Priya

School Professional from Illinois

This was an awesome experience. Candice is a natural. Erika's Lighthouse was very well represented. The message was delivered with care. I know that everyone in that session knew the value of incorporating a mental health curriculum in their school. Erika's lighthouse is definitely the best program that would give them the support and tools they need to function.

Victor

Health Educator from Illinois

When the current pandemic first took storm, I found myself struggling with my mental health mostly because staying in quarantine was such an adverse and tumultuous time. Once school started, I wanted to help my classmates, who were also dealing with mental health struggles, which inspired me to establish an Erika's Lighthouse club at my school. Through this club, my classmates and I have found a safe space to express ourselves and help break down the stigma surrounding mental health.

Gowri

Student from Texas

Our school has partnered with Erika’s Lighthouse for several years, and I am always impressed with the quality of materials that they produce. The staff at Erika’s Lighthouse strives to provide the most current resources so our teachers can effectively deliver information while using proven best practices. Talking about depression can make both teachers and students uncomfortable, but the Erika’s Lighthouse program is designed to decrease the negative attitudes of depression. The program provides an opportunity for conversations about how students can contribute to a positive mental health culture in their school and community.

Jason Dane

School Professional from Illinois

I love that this program is free. Wow - amazing! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and resources.

Tobias

School Professional from International

I believe this club brings awareness to such an important topic. While we as adults can try to send the message that mental health is important, students hearing this message delivered from their peers in fun ways is even more impactful. The students in our club truly feel they at they are making a difference!

Gwen

School Professional from Illinois

Previously, I had used the video and lesson for Level 2 for everybody. I changed it up so that I would have a plan for every year and not have to reinvent the wheel. The lessons worked well for the assigned grade levels. My geeky self enjoyed seeing how the students from the Level 2 video had grown and seemed to be doing well in the Level 3 video. After you watch the videos so many times in a day, you get a little emotionally invested! Thank you to Erika's Lighthouse for providing these resources for a tough topic.

Pat

School Counselor from West Virginia

I have enjoyed using Erika's Lighthouse lessons with my students. These lessons are ready to go and incredibly simple to use. The lessons include the student perspective, which is so valuable. My students have shared that the lessons are a great opportunity for them to talk about mental health with peers. So many students would not experience this without Erika's Lighthouse.

Jillian

School Professional from New Mexico

My organization has been using the middle school curriculum in the Indian River Florida school System for several years now. This was my first time presenting, and I just LOVE IT! I took advantage of the heart-to-heart Valentine’s idea, and it was a hit. Next week, I will presenting my final segment 3 to our 6th grade population for the academic school year.

Xzondra

Community Partner from Florida

I would love to get information out to our Middle and High School members about your program since not everyone was able to attend the Health conference and so many of our students have struggled at different points over the last two years and during adolescence. I would love for Massachusetts to be flooded with Erika's Lighthouse resources!

Fiona

School Professional from Massachusetts

Thanks for all the work we have done. The resources from Erika’s Lighthouse are highly appreciated here among our middle and high school counselors. I value our experiences together and look forward to our paths crossing again in the future.

Edward

School Professional from Wisconsin

Thank you so much for offering this program. I am retiring at the end of this school year and regret that I wasn't able to find time to make more use of it. My plans were to sponsor a mental health club this year and use your resources for it. I will encourage my replacement to check out what Erika's Lighthouse has to offer if she's not already aware. Keep up the important work that you are doing and the messages that you are promoting to our youth!

Stacey

School Professional from Missouri

Thank you for providing wonderful resources and lesson plans for educators. After utilizing the middle school curriculum, I have had a lot of great feedback from students. One student stayed after class to thank me for sharing about depression since she has a friend currently struggling with it. Another student opened up to his class about his experience managing his depression over the last couple of years. His peers were very supportive and appreciated his willingness to open up a discussion.The small group questions you provided have been a great tool to allow students to openly share with each other in a safe space. Your program is changing lives, and I am thankful to be a part of it.

Kalee

School Professional from Oklahoma

Lessons continue to be great and developmentally appropriate for the kiddos. Thank you

Soren

School Counselor from Connecticut

Parents were really moved by the important information shared in the workshop. It is vital that our community is aware of the warning signs to look for with their children

Jonathan

School Professional from Illinois

now I know I am not alone with stress

Dante

Student from California

We are using the one day depression education lesson in high school ROTC and 11th grade health classes. We added two of the program addition activities to break up the lesson and include an interactive, skill building component - 'Having Supportive Conversations with Peers' and 'Text from a Friend'. We are receiving positive feedback from students and the team who facilitated re: the materials

Maeve

School Professional

I just like the whole concept of the organization about spreading awareness of depression in youth because it's so common this day and age and I just wanted to help in any way I can to be a support system. I want to make sure people know I'm someone they can go to about that

Meghan

Student from Illinois

It has been wonderful seeing how the Level III EL programming used in my Health classes has inspired young people to act. I grew up in Northfield so this organization and message are something I have always deeply valued. I was lucky enough to be involved with this programming as a student in middle school and high school as well.

Michelle

Health Educator from Illinois

I think that Sasha and Andre did the right thing to talk to there parents. Whenever I am stressed i like to go outside. Or I also play on the phone. -C.M.

Ariadne

Student from California

Erika’s Lighthouse provides the opportunity for students to understand that depression is part of life. It teaches the symptomatology in non-judgmental way that is very palatable. The video demonstrates how accessing help is an important life skill, and sometimes you have to access multiple avenues. It models for students that there are circles of support, from their friends, family, school, and community. The help seeking component is my favorite because it is a true skill that we all need to develop over a lifespan. Additionally, it helps develop a help-seeking culture on campuses and assists in identifying community resources. The bookmark is a great resource that has great tangible information to support mental wellness. The program comes from a multiple perspective place that supports a school, and student.

Sally

School Social Worker from California

My favorite part of the presentation was the worksheets because I liked writing about myself. My favorite part of the presentation was learning some ways to calm down my stress. In my opinion my favorite thing was the worksheets because we can put what we feel.

Evangeline

Student from California

I think my ability to help someone has definitely improved and I now know to seek help if I think they need it.

Delilah

Student

Thank you for providing these valuable resources at no cost.

Aredia

School Professional from Illinois

...a high school stuednt was taking the ELH health unit this week and reached out to a trusted adult at school. How amazing it is to know the ELH initiative helped that student!

Kaelen

School Professional from Virginia

This program kept me interested and informed and I really appreciate that I can now help myself or someone I know who may be struggling with depression.

Ronan

Student

I highly enjoyed presenting for ELH for elementary school students, this was very easy to implement, the video is short, clear, and relatable. The team did an amazing job creating this presentation and took into consideration the limited preparation time PSW's have to prepare for the classroom presentation. Students enjoyed it and I got great feedback from the teachers and administrators.

Sally Stevens, LCSW PPSC M. Ed.

School Professional from California

Statistics compiled by the school district revealed [an increase] in the number of students who self-reported having mental-health difficulties – from 1,168 in 2021-22 to 3,146 in 2022-23.

Elena

Community Partner from Florida

Thank you so much for reaching out to me. Thankfully our school uses your resources currently, which I am deeply grateful for. I cannot thank Erika's Lighthouse enough for all that you all do. We need these resources in school more than ever, and these resources will save lives. I share your resources widely and even have used your resources with my own children. My son lost a friend to suicide 3 years ago, and knowing that there is a resource he can learn about mental health has been an positive for him too. Thank you.

Elizabeth

School Professional from Illinois

My ability to help someone with depression has completely changed after the Erikas Lighthouse Program because I can see signs of depression, and I know who to call if I or someone else needs help.

Magnus

Student

These are kids who, without that curriculum, likely would’ve said nothing, would’ve continued to struggle, and would’ve received no help. Now I feel like they’ve taken that first big step… acknowledging what they’re feeling and recognizing that they need assistance. And because of Erika’s Lighthouse, they will get it

Lia

School Professional from Indiana

The videos are well done. The kids find them authentic and, because of the diversity, can see a face they recognize. The materials are affordable, well thought out and easy to use. They're flexible and have no rigidity about how they're to be used. Erika’s Lighthouse supplies resources offering an easy way to talk to kids about how to stay mentally healthy. No one is putting out these kinds of materials right now, and trying to create them on my own would be impossible.

Harry

School Professional from Washington

My ability to help someone with depression changed due to Erika’s Lighthouse program because I know a lot more about depression and symptoms.

Declan

Student

I feel more comfortable talking to people about it and I know more about what I should do if I see someone with warning signs.

Sylvia

Student

This Program is great overall, teaching kids that they don't have to be scared do talk to people and that their feelings are Valid and matter.

Orion

Student

I like this program, I feel it shows a lot of peoples real life experiences.

Zaria

Student

Just wanted to let you know that two of my schools are doing the Positivity Pledge. They are having a blast with it and have created competitions within the classrooms. Thank you so much for all the help. What a wonderful way to get the information across and to end the year on a positive note.

Ruth

School Professional from Ohio

The school counselor and I did Level 3 (one day) in 2 days per grade during their 37 min PE/Health classes. We had about 45-50 students in the gym per session. We did break out small groups (5 groups with us, PE and health each leading a group) during day 2. We gave out 988 bracelets and hung up large Erik's lighthouse posters and I put a 988 banner and the QR code for student services on them as well. We also used the referral cards and had about 35 (10%) request to be seen after. This year we did not do anything for staff other than give them a 988 bracelet. Hoping we can for next year. Let me know if you have more questions. Erika's Lighthouse is a great program!!! And such a blessing to our students!

Gideon

School Social Worker from Illinois

I love Erika’s Lighthouse! I use it every year for Depression awareness with my 7th graders and then use some of the additional resources to share with Middle school students for mental health awareness. Thank you!

Lyra

School Counselor from Texas

Just wanted to let you know that the resources are amazing. I've shared them with my Health & PE staff and all I keep hearing is positive things. Thank you so much for sharing and providing support around mental wellness and suicide prevention. I really appreciate it.

Astrid

Administrator from Wisconsin

My ability has changed for the better because now I have a better background on the topic. With my more in depth knowledge of the topic I can confidently help others with depression.

Killian

Student

I was sooo thankful for your lessons. There is very little time to plan to put together my own lessons. This website and your information was, truly, a Godsend. The material was very relevant; the handouts were appreciated.

Cassandra

School Professional from Ohio

Erika’s Lighthouse has been such an outstanding program for our middle school students. This May, we are working on a school wide Positivity Pledge for 30 days in honor of Mental Health Awareness.

Lori

School Professional from Kansas

We used to use the SOS curriculum but 3 years ago we switched to Erika's Lighthouse. We love how it's a general overview of mental health. The kids relate to it so much better.

Dana

School Social Worker from Wisconsin

I think that it is good as it is because there is a little bit of everything (videos, lectures, vocabulary matching). It is formed well to teach students about mental health.

Elowen

Student

I am very thankful for you and the team who created this program and made it available for us. I am glad I got to know it in one of ISCA's workshops.

Leander

School Counselor from International

We have been using these materials and so appreciate them. Everything from the parent letter down to the self-referral. Thank you so much for this

Jasper

Administrator from California

I used the 4-day lesson plan with approximately 75 fifth graders. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing this information with them and their teachers and I feel very good about the impact it has had on them. I want to continue conversations with them as they relate to their learning through your program. I have done a different program in the past and was excited to be introduced to your program when our elementary school counselors met before the start of school for students. I really like Erika's Lighthouse the best! Thank you for making this available. (Elem teacher in JCPS)

Naomi

School Professional from Kentucky

i have no suggestions since i now know i'm not alone with stress.

Dominic

Student from California

The Erika's Lighthouse Program Works! So many of our students really listened and heard the message of your curriculum!!! They heard it, they thought about what they’re feeling, and they asked for help! THEY ASKED FOR HELP! That’s truly the whole point, right? Awareness, understanding, and not being afraid to confront what you’re feeling and ask for help rather than suffer in silence.

Lia

School Professional from Indiana

I know what to look for and how to help.

Nicolette

Student

You are doing an incredible job with making resources accessible to teachers like myself. We have a common goal of helping to educate, removing stigma, and normalize the idea that mental health is something we all have!

Heather

School Professional from New York

I appreciate all your fantastic resources and I have really enjoyed the new resource portal. Thanks for all your hard work on such an important part of our kids lives.

Mireille

School Counselor from Indiana

I’m proud to support Erika’s Lighthouse because I believe all students should have access to quality mental health education. Mental health and depression is often a difficult topic to discuss at any age, especially for adolescent students. So when I learned how scalable, sustainable, and impactful ELH’s programs are, I knew I wanted to be involved at a deeper level and joined the Corporate Advisory Committee. The sheer number of students whose lives are positively impacted by ELH’s educational programs and Empowerment Clubs is inspiring, due in large part to the ever-evolving and approachable curriculum. I’m excited to see how ELH can expand its reach and provide even more education as we enter this next chapter of growth.

Lukas Kubon

Donor from Illinois

I absolutely love this program! I wish I had known about it in years past because I definitely would have been using it. I utilized the one day lesson this year to complete our required Suicide Prevention training with students in 8-12 grades. I also plan to use other resources on the website to conduct stress management classes and mindfulness activities.

Dorian

School Professional

Let me start out by saying that the Erika’s Lighthouse curriculum and resources are amazing, and the bounty of options and web design has become even more robust and wonderful in the past year. Kudos, and THANK YOU for putting it out there for free!

Clementine

School Professional from Illinois

Working in a special day school program, where all students have IEPs centered around behavior and emotional disabilities, having the Erika's Lighthouse curriculum was vital to start our school year and orient ourselves in understanding the connection we all have to depression and suicide. Many of our students at our school are diagnosed, but they do not necessarily recognize that there are many others going through the same thing. We were able to help our students see the connections between each other and how they may help themselves, while also supporting others in our school. Additionally, we loved that it was FREE!

Nicole

School Social Worker from Kansas

A Suite of Programs

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A Suite of Programs

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Evidence-Based

A Community of Action

Free K-12 Mental Health Curriculum for Schools

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For more than 20 years, Erika's Lighthouse has partnered with schools to improve mental health through evidence-informed, turnkey programs that are easy to implement and make an impact.

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