Erika's Lighthouse

About Erika's Lighthouse

Our Vision

Erika’s Lighthouse is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating communities about childhood and adolescent depression. Through our educational programs we promote awareness and early identification of depression and strive to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness that acts as a barrier to help. We believe that everyone deserves good mental health and the right to live a healthy, happy and productive life.

About Us

After losing Erika in 2004, Erika’s family, friends and the community at large were in need of an answer. How can we prevent this from happening to another child in our community? The answer: depression education.

What we know:

• Somewhere between 15%-20% of youth will develop clinical depression before adulthood.
• 90% of youth who take their life have a diagnosable mental disorder, the most common being depression.

It is our strong belief that failure to recognize the symptoms of depression and the stigma associated with mental illness are what prevents youth and families from getting the help they deserve. 

What We Do

We strive to provide free, flexible and effective depression education and mental health programming. Our approach is to change the way a community perceives and reacts to mental illness through hopeful and fact-based depression education at every level: schools, teens, parents and health professionals. Our programming is guided by the message that depression is common, treatable and can be serious. There is hope and help. You are not alone.

Who We Reach

Schools:

• The Red Flags Program: A depression curriculum for 5^th– 8^th grades
• Real Teenagers Talking About Adolescent Depression: A video-based study guide for 8^th grade and high school
• School faculty and staff training on depression awareness and suicide prevention

Teens:

• Erika’s Lighthouse Clubs: Leadership and advocacy clubs at high schools for students who are passionate about raising awareness of depression and mental health
• Teen Panels: A group of trained high school students who give depression education presentations to other students and share real stories about depression and how to get help

Young Adults:

• Depression education presentations at colleges and universities
• Erika’s Lighthouse Young Adult Board: A group of post college students that work together to raise funds and awareness for the organization

Parents:

• “What I Wish My Parents Knew”: A depression education video by teens for parents
• Parent Handbook on Childhood and Adolescent Depression: A book on how to get help and what parents need to know about depression and treatment
• Parent education workshops on depression

Health Professionals:

• Professional training on depression and suicide prevention

Everyone:

• An annual Walkathon to raise awareness and “get depression out of the dark”
• Our website: www.erikaslighthouse.org

For more information visit our website at www.erikaslighthouse.org , or contact us via e-mail at erikaslighthouse@gmail.com.

• Contact Email: info@erikaslighthouse.org
• Address:

  PO Box 616, Winnetka, IL 60093