RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS

Erika's Lighthouse has been working with educators for over 15 years to bring high-quality depression awareness and suicide prevention programming into middle and high school classrooms. We are here to continue that work through these uncertain times.

We All Have Mental Health: A Program for Middle & High School Remote Learners

In collaboration with the Anna Freud Centre For Children and Families, Erika's Lighthouse has created this program so that schools can continue to deliver depression education and lessons on good mental health, even when teaching and learning in remote environments.

Learn more by creating a FREE resource portal account today >

The Erika’s Lighthouse Program: Depression Awareness for Middle School Students

This free program provides an introduction to the topic of depression awareness and is ideal for middle school students and/or early high school students.

Our middle school program is broken into three lessons, the first starting with an 18 minute video of real teens talking about their personal struggles.

In-Class
For schools in-session we recommend beginning with our first lesson about depression which promotes help-seeking behavior. However, every school and classroom is unique and is up to the educator.

E-Learning
Remote learning creates new challenges that can be difficult. However, lesson three focuses on positive mental health. This is an ideal lesson for e-learning.

Learn more by creating a FREE resource portal account today >

The Erika’s Lighthouse Program: Depression and Suicide Awareness for High School Students

This free program covers all of the basic and important information about teen depression, but also takes a deeper look into the content. This program is ideal for high school classrooms.

Our high school program is broken into three lessons, the first starting with an 18 minute video of real teens talking about their personal struggles.

In-Class
For schools in-session we recommend beginning with our first lesson about depression which promotes help-seeking behavior. However, every school and classroom is unique and is up to the educator.

E-Learning
Remote learning creates new challenges that can be difficult. However, lesson three focuses on positive mental health. This is an ideal lesson for e-learning.

Learn more by creating a FREE resource portal account today >

How to Teach Lesson 3 Remotely

Consider using Lesson 3 of the middle-school program, which focuses on stress & coping skills. NOTE: Even if you teach high school students, Lesson 3 of the middle school program can be an effective resource for promoting wellness and stress management    

Tips to Teach Lesson 3 >

How Can We Help?

We support you in encouraging positive mental health behaviors among your students during remote teaching. Please participate in this brief survey to let us know how we can be assist you during this challenging time. It should take just a few minutes to complete. 

Take the survey >


 

Encourage Students to Take the Positivity Pledge!

  Join Erika's Lighthouse in celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month this May! We are offering 31 days to focus on your mental health and help put some good in the world. Share with your students! 

#MentalHealthMondays, #WinningWednesday
#FriendsFamilyFridays

Take the Pledge >

E-Learning Jeopardy-style Game

Connecting with teens over the internet can be challenging. Luckily, a few of our amazing educators developed a fun Jeopardy style game to help educate your teens on good mental health!

Check out the amazing game today >

Blog Posts from Erika's Lighthouse

  Stay connected with Erika's Lighthouse and read personal stories from other educators, explore ways to improve mental health and hear from your peers.

Read Blogs here > 

We Are Here for You

Erika's Lighthouse staff is here to support every educator through this transition...

Many schools are taking proactive measures, shutting their doors and moving to remote learning environments. In the face of a public health crisis, it is equally important to monitor physical health as well as mental health. This time of change, uncertainty and the fear of the unknown will undoubtedly heighten levels of stress, anxiety and depression.
Read more >

Tips & Strategies

Connect with students remotely with these helpful ideas:

  • Online check-ins through in-class polls, emails asking students to check-in and see if they need support, occasional mental health wellness check-ins on previously identified students.
  • Encourage breaks in online lesson plans for mindfulness exercises, breathing or taking a walk.
  • Promote discussions with parents or trusted adults about feelings, struggles, challenges.

Post Your Support

Add the "We're In This Together" frame to your facebook profile photo. Let your friends and family know that you are there for them if they need help. We truly are in this together.

Add the frame to your profile today >

Send A Reminder - Teen Bookmark

If your school allows, send your students a friendly reminder: the Teen Bookmark from the Erika's Lighthouse program.

Download the Bookmark Today:
English | Spanish

Group Stress Relief

Find fun activities you and your students can do as a group via video chat. Two great projects that can also be stress relievers are DIY Sand TraysStress Balls or Aromatherapy Play Dough that are fun to make and help maintain positive mental health!

You can also start each lesson with breathing, mindfulness or other relaxation and focusing exercises.

Parent Handbook & Bookmark

If you have families struggling, share our Parent Handbook. We have it available in both English & Spanish along with an easy to share bookmark or the whole copy. You can share it with your family's that may be challenged.

Download it Today >

Intervention Language for Parents

Do you have parents who are struggling to talk with their child(ren) about concerns? Share this Intervention Language for Parents in Times of Worry. 

Intervention Language for Parents (English) >

Intervention Language for Parents (Spanish) >

Emotion Check-In

Consider implementing an "Emotion Check-In/How do you Feel Today?"" at the beginning and or end of a virtual class or discussion. The first step in managing your feelings is to first identify exactly what it is your feeling.

Download It Today >

Middle School Health Education: Teaching Ideas

Check out these 6-8th grade remote learning prompts that focus on health education skills. They aren't lessons but hopefully will support health education instructions at home. Thanks to @cairnguidance and @kyahperd for this!

Download it here!

High School Health Education: Teaching Ideas

Check out these 9-12th grade remote learning prompts that focus on health education skills. They aren't lessons but hopefully will support health education instructions at home. Thanks to @cairnguidance and @kyahperd for this!

Download it here!

Send An E-Card

Let your family, friends, classmates and others know that you are thinking of them by sending an e-card. Download the image above and include it in personalized emails to them. Make their day and show them you care.

Feeling Thermometer

Consider doing a "Temperature Check-In" with not only students but fellow teachers and staff as well. Have students identify the emotions that coincide with the colors on the thermometer.

Calm Classroom e-Book

   Our friends at Calm Classroom have created a wonderful e-book to share with school communities during this time of remote learning. These mindfulness-based techniques might be useful to incorporate into lessons that you are sharing with students online.

Check it out here >

School Counselors Have a Message for Kids: 'It's Ok To Not Be Ok'

"Unfortunately, there are no easy answers. Instead, Sabens says, she tries to let students know "that it's OK to not be OK. I mean, most of the world is not OK right now... It's OK to grieve about what you're losing because it is tragic."

Check out the article here >

Trauma-Informed Distance Learning from MindShift

  ...what trauma-informed teaching looks like varies for different teachers and students. For that reason, Venet has developed “four core priorities,” rather than “strategies,” for trauma-informed classrooms - Predictability, Flexibility, Connection, & Empowerment

Read more here >

How to Maintain Relationships with your Students

Strategies shared by teachers for maintaining relationships - both peer-to-peer and student-teacher - when everyone's gone remote. 

Read the article here >

COVID-19 Resources from the National Center for School Mental Health

The stress associated with this virus may understandably increase worry and anxiety in our students, staff, families, and communities. At the National Center for School Mental Health, we want to support you as you protect your health and the health of those around you. To that end, we have accumulated resources and tips for you to use and share with others in your networks. 

Click here for the Resources >

Take the Pledge

Join Erika's Lighthouse in celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month this May! We are offering 31 days for you to focus on your mental health and help put some good in the world. Here are a few examples:

#ShareSundays
#MentalHealthMondays
#WinningWednesday
#FriendsFamilyFridays

Take the Pledge >

Building Resilience Starts with Self-Care

“Should the cabin lose pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the overhead area. Please place the mask over your own mouth and nose before assisting others.”

Reilient Educator shares with us why it is so important to take care of yourself before helping someone else.

Read here >

Ideas for Teachers

Self-care matters. If you are constantly giving your all to everyone else, you are going to eventually burn out.  Please take a moment to schedule ways to nurture yourself every week.  It will be one of the best things you can do to show up and show out  for your students.

Check out the site here >

News from the National Education Association

A study by the advocacy group, Alliance for Excellent Education, reports that 40-50% of new teachers leave within their first five years on the job. Many factors contribute to the high dropout rate, a severe lack of work-life balance and the inevitable high stress levels teachers feel on the job, to name a few. Because of this, self-care is extremely important for teachers. However, it’s hard for teachers to take care of themselves when their career is taking care of students.

Read the article here >

Why Teacher Self-Care Matters

Students are only as good as their educators - and this is more true today. Self-care is an important component of a teacher’s mental health, but there are misconceptions about what it is. It’s common for educators to dismiss the self-care movement as “selfish” or “superficial.” But for teachers, self-care is so much more than breakfast in bed or treating yourself to a spa day. It’s about taking care of your health so that you’re prepared to be the best teacher you can be...

Learn more >

Like to Run? Join a Virtual Race on Independence Day!

Race for depression education with Erika's Lighthouse! Join Team Resilience for this Virtual 4 Mile Run on July 4, 2020. One Nation is a national organized virtual run that includes a bib, t-shirt and a medal for finishers along with the amazing fundraising perks associated with joining Team Resilience.

Learn more here >

Google Hangouts Meet

1) Load our video from the Vimeo link on our Resource Portal.
2) Follow these guidelines from Google Help >
3) Conduct your class using our Lesson 3 plans.

Microsoft Teams

1) Load our video from the Vimeo link on our Resource Portal.
2) Follow these guidelines from Microsoft Help >
3) Conduct your class using our Lesson 3 plans.

Zoom

1) Load our video from the Vimeo link on our Resource Portal.
2) Follow these guidelines from Zoom Help >
3) Conduct your class using our Lesson 3 plans.

Cisco Webex

1) Load our video from the Vimeo link on our Resource Portal.
2) Follow these guidelines from Cisco Help >
3) Conduct your class using our Lesson 3 plans.