Erika's Lighthouse Featured in Global Suicide Prevention Review
A 2025 systematic review published in the International Journal of Mental Health Nursing evaluated 53 global adolescent suicide prevention studies, affirming the measurable impact of Erika's Lighthouse programming on student knowledge and help-seeking behaviors.
Key Takeaways
- Statistically Significant Outcomes: The review evaluated the 2015 study by White on Erika’s Lighthouse, highlighting significant post-program improvements in students' ability to recognize depression/suicidal thoughts in friends and seek help.
- Global Benchmark: Erika’s Lighthouse was highlighted among 41 vetted youth suicide prevention programs worldwide that utilize interactive classroom discussions, video presentations, and peer-led panels.
- Proven Model for Schools: The systematic review confirmed that school-based interventions like Erika’s Lighthouse consistently improve student suicide awareness, attitudes toward mental health, and help-seeking habits.
Why This Matters
Systematic reviews represent one of the highest levels of scientific evidence because they evaluate data across dozens of individual studies rather than relying on a single trial.
This review confirms that schools are one of the most effective environments for early intervention. By embedding suicide awareness and help-seeking education into standard school life, communities can directly alter how adolescents respond when they or their peers are in distress.
Key Study Metrics
- Total Studies Reviewed: 53 independent studies
- Unique Programs Evaluated: 41 distinct suicide prevention interventions
- Primary Focus Areas Measured: Suicidal behavior (82% of studies), Help-seeking (67%), Knowledge & Awareness (94%), Stigma/Attitudes (82%), and Coping Skills (50%).
When school districts select depression awareness and suicide prevention programs, they look for third-party research verifying that a program works.
By including Erika's Lighthouse in this broad synthesis of 53 studies, independent researchers have reaffirmed that our video-based, discussion-centered approach directly aligns with best practices in adolescent mental health education.
Erika's Lighthouse Works
The authors reviewed the 2015 study (White, 2015) examining Erika's Lighthouse classroom programming. In their data extraction, the researchers recorded key positive shifts in student outcomes:
| Evaluated Domain | Study Findings Recorded in Systematic Review |
| Recognizing Signs in Friends | A statistically significant increase in students identifying depression and suicidal thoughts in a peer. |
| Help-Seeking Behaviors | A highly significant increase in reported help-seeking post-intervention. |
| Knowledge & Understanding | Significantly improved knowledge surrounding mental health topics. |
| Program Approach | Noted for utilizing video presentations, lectures, adolescent discussion panels, and guided classroom discussions. |
The Authors
This independent systematic review was conducted by a team of nursing and mental health scholars from Western Sydney University and BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences.
| Researcher | Role / Affiliation |
| Rita Pokharel Poudel, MN | Lead Author — School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University / BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences |
| Dr. Sheeja Perumbil Pathrose, PhD | Co-Author — Senior Lecturer, Western Sydney University |
| Dr. Diana Jefferies, PhD | Co-Author — Academic & Mental Health Researcher, Western Sydney University |
| Prof. Lucie M. Ramjan, PhD | Co-Author — Professor of Nursing, Western Sydney University & University of Wollongong |
Access the Paper
Citation: Pokharel Poudel R, Perumbil Pathrose S, Jefferies D, Ramjan LM. Effectiveness of Suicide Prevention Programmes Among Adolescents and Sociocultural Adaptation of Programmes: A Systematic Review. Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2025 Apr;34(2):e70038. doi: 10.1111/inm.70038. PMID: 40207732; PMCID: PMC11984072.
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