The first chapter of Erika’s Lighthouse was founded at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois in 2005, following the death of a fourteen-year-old student from suicide.  Erika’s Lighthouse was born out of a community effort to answer the question, “how can we prevent this from happening to another child?”

Teen depression is a common illness that will impact nearly 20% of young people before they reach adulthood.  Erika’s Lighthouse is committed to the belief that through depression and mental health education, early identification and intervention, and the elimination of the stigma associated with mental illness, that lives can be saved.

Teen Clubs of Erika’s Lighthouse have formed in schools and universities throughout the Chicagoland area where trained club members provide peer-to-peer panel programming about depression and mental health.  Teen Club members speak to their classmates about depression, the warning signs to look for, and how to get help for their peers.  The goals of an Erika’s Lighthouse Teen Club is not just to educate their classmates about depression, but also to help break the stigma associated with depression and to develop a culture of good mental health in schools so that teens who suffer from depression can get the help they need.

The Teen Board of Erika’s Lighthouse at Barrington High School, under the direction of BHS Student Assistance Program Coordinator Amy Winkelman, continues to support Barrington area students  by providing panel presentations on depression and mental health to Junior and Senior gym classes at BHS. They provide activities that promote mental wellness, education about suicide prevention, and opportunities to break down the stigma surrounding mental illness.  

For more information about the Erika’s Lighthouse Teen Club at Barrington High School, contact Amy Winkelman at [email protected].

For more information about Erika’s Lighthouse programs and resources (including the Parent Handbook seen below), as well as childhood and teen depression, and how to help,  visit www.erikaslighthouse.org.