Grounded in Science, Proven in Classrooms
Erika’s Lighthouse programs are not just well-intentioned—they are empirically validated, skills-based, and grounded in academic research. Explore our peer-reviewed publications, university evaluations, national outcome reports, and implementation white papers.
Peer-Reviewed Studies
Our classroom curricula have been rigorously evaluated by university researchers and published in peer-reviewed academic journals. Erika's Lighthouse programs are Tier-1, under the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), and meet the criteria for being a Tier 2, Evidence-Based program under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Fidelity to Science. Flexibility for Community.
We maintain strict fidelity to the core active ingredients of evidence-based prevention—teaching clinical mental health literacy, safe messaging, and actionable help-seeking skills. But we reject rigid, one-size-fits-all scripting. We empower educators to adapt classroom conversations so they reflect the cultural identity, diversity, and lived experiences of their students.
Effectiveness of Suicide Prevention Programmes Among Adolescents and Sociocultural Adaptation of Programmes: A Systematic Review
Western Sydney University and BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences
Teen Depression, Stories of Hope and Health: A Promising Universal School Climate Intervention for Middle School Youth
Depression Education As Primary Prevention: The Erika's Lighthouse School-Based Program For High School Students
Academic Research
Rigorous academic evaluation extends beyond traditional peer-reviewed journals. This collection of academic research—encompassing doctoral dissertations, university field studies, and conference presentations—provides vital, real-world data on Erika’s Lighthouse programs. Together, these evaluations deliver timely insights into implementation dynamics, program efficacy, and student help-seeking outcomes across diverse school communities.
Implementation and evaluation of Erika’s Lighthouse school-based suicide prevention program in a large urban district
Assessing the effectiveness of a school-based depression and suicide prevention program
Adler School of Professional Psychology
National Reports & Data Analysis
Continuous, real-world evaluation is essential to understanding how programs perform across diverse learning environments. Our internal data analyses aggregate pre- and post-program student responses from partner schools nationwide to track shifts in mental health literacy, adult trust, and help-seeking behaviors. These outcome reports deliver actionable evidence of program impact, ensuring our resources continuously adapt to meet the evolving needs of school communities.
Youth Help-Seeking Around Mental Health: Promoting early identification through school-based mental health education
White Papers
Translating research into sustainable school policy requires actionable, strategic guidance. Our white papers outline internal best practices and alignment models designed to help administrators, educators, and clinicians seamlessly integrate universal mental health programming into their districts. From mapping curricula to national health frameworks to operationalizing model suicide prevention policies, these resources provide the blueprints needed to cultivate inclusive, mentally healthy school communities.
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