Nonprofit organization Erika’s Lighthouse is a beacon of hope for students struggling with mental health

Erika’s Lighthouse is a nonprofit organization based in Illinois whose mission is to destigmatize depression among adolescents through education and spreading mental health awareness. Their programs are based on four different pillars: the power of Frositivity, the power to change the world, the power of spreading programs, and the power of trust and integrity.

Founded after parents Ginny and Tom Neuckranz lost their 14-year-old daughter Erika to adolescent depression, their loss became a rally for suicide prevention awareness and healing. Their diverse team of educators, psychologists and marketers are united around the goal of creating the most effective mental health curriculum for America’s school systems.

I had the honor of interviewing two representatives from their organization and am excited to explore their strategies to create a safe space for youth around the world.

Over the past two decades since its founding, Erika’s Lighthouse has reached over 700,000 students in more than 2,000 schools in 49 states and 21 countries. Vice President of Programs Katie Conklin said Erika’s Lighthouse is in more than 2,500 schools nationwide.

“We have many American schools using our programs. One of the things that is important to Erica’s Lighthouse and to our board of directors is that everything we do is free to school communities,” said Conklin.

According to student surveys, 96% of teens felt more connected to trusted adults after completing the program. Surveys found that 73% of teens agreed that they would be more comfortable talking about their mental health with peers, and 83% showed proficiency in learning about mental health topics such as depression or anxiety.

Going forward, Erika’s Lighthouse has a vision so that they can continue to serve as a beacon of light for students around the world.

“We’d like to impact a million students per school year…we’d like to be in 5,000 schools,” said media liaison Kelly Maicon.

They strive to create an inclusive, safe school environment, ensuring that all students can talk to trusted adults and know that they are worthy of good mental health.

To expand the reach of its mental health programs to more school districts, the organization has employed three different strategies. They work with school administrators, promote a “train the trainer” model and conduct studies that demonstrate the benefits of collaboration.

Counselors and principals are the key links between implementing the mental health curriculum and speaking to students about their concerns. Erika’s Lighthouse advocates a specific framework for training school leaders.

“Students spend 70% of their waking hours in a school building, and we want them to feel like they can connect with the adults in their lives who are in that building,” Conklin said.

Building a “train the trainer” model requires an established curriculum and organizational representatives presenting their mental health awareness strategies at teacher conferences. These teachers then teach counselors, school psychologists, and other faculty members so that all staff are equipped with a toolkit for success.

Erika’s Lighthouse offers programs outside of school, such as family engagement workshops and policy training, that benefit marginalized communities. However, classroom education and curriculum education are specialties that ambassadors want to spread in the coming years. Each program is free and evidence-based.

Online resources are available at erikaslighthouse.org with accessible monthly webinars, training courses for community members and a portal for websites translated into multiple languages. For younger students in primary or lower secondary schools, interactive activities with fun prizes promote engagement.

Erika’s Lighthouse conducts research to launch media campaigns on the importance of mental wellness programs and revising old lesson plans.

In their most recent press release, Erika’s Lighthouse revealed curated research from surveys they collected from students after completing the program. Their research survey is titled “2024 Help-Seeking Around Mental Health Report.”

“We put out a press release, a telegram press release, that went to markets across the country. I want to say that we have reached a viewership number, if I remember the most recent figure, it was 68 million,” Maicon said.

After the program, students reported feeling better equipped to deal with anxiety, intrusive thoughts and self-deprecation. These results have been compiled into a comprehensive impact report, which is published on their website, along with a twenty-year overview of their reach.

“I think sometimes it’s very easy for adults to forget that young people have a lot of stressors in their lives,” says Conklin. “So we have to recognize a little bit: how can we help people deal with those stressors and know that there is a difference between stress and…having a mental disorder?”

Students in middle schools and high schools across the country are encouraged to follow the nonprofit’s vision and become advocates for suicide prevention. All clubs affiliated with their organizations are guaranteed financial support and other resources, such as bracelets offering crisis hotline information or “care kits.”

If you’re looking to get involved as a teen in high school in the United States, check out the Erika’s Lighthouse website to learn more about their Youth Advisory Board and another to start an Empowerment Club associated with the organization.

If you are looking for help for yourself or a friend, call the 9-8-8 National Mental Health Crisis Hotline.

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