At Erika’s Lighthouse, we understand that discussing depression can be a challenging topic. As an educator or social worker, you are considered a trusted adult to the students who come to you. And while we realize this isn’t always part of your typical lesson plan, we know teaching good mental health is also a valuable …
Somewhere between 15 and 20 percent of children and teens will suffer from at least one depressive episode before they reach adulthood. These episodes come in many forms—ranging from the child who doesn’t want to go to school to the teen who is constantly in a rage to the withdrawn child who barely speaks. …
A Family Workbook Series on Childhood Mental Health and Adolescent Depression Read More »
Access Programs It is not uncommon for a child or teen with depression to avoid or refuse to go to school. Inability or reluctance to wake up and get dressed in the morning, frequent visits to the school nurse, skipping class, or frequent complaints of physical pain and sickness such as headaches, …
School Refusal: When Your Child Doesn’t Want to Go to School Due to Depression Read More »
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 note: Numbers represent the highlighted annotations on this CDC report. The Erika’s Lighthouse programs firmly center on the student, allowing teens to find their voices and speak up about mental health. By …
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 offers hope. Teens who feel connected at school report much lower rates of poor mental health. And schools can play an important role in supporting students’ mental health. Erika’s Lighthouse is here …
CDC Report on Youth Mental Health: The Erika’s Lighthouse Perspective Read More »
Erika’s Lighthouse Core Value Series Part 1: Classroom Education Do you think students would benefit from depression and mental health education in your community? According to the Pew Research Center, the number of teens experiencing depression has increased by 59% between 2007 and 2017. There is a growing need for depression education and suicide awareness in our …
Mental Health Education: The Power of Programs with Impact Read More »
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 challenge, are we unintentionally doing more harm? In a recent opinion piece in Newsweek, Nat Kendall-Taylor and Andrew J. Fuligni, CEO of the Frameworks Institute and Professor in the Department …
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 resources and tools, teens can feel empowered to make changes in their community. Peer-led programming is a highly effective way for teens to build …
The Power of Programs with ImpactPart II: Teen Empowerment Read More »
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 health? Do they know where to get help for their students or other teens in the community? Who We Are Erika’s Lighthouse is a non-profit organization founded in …
The Power of Programs with ImpactPart III: Family Engagement Read More »
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 issues such as domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse, trauma, immigration/acculturation, grief and loss, mental illness, and developmental disabilities. She has served on numerous tasks forces and advisory boards regarding …
