Partnership with Erika's Lighthouse

It has been an honor to be a collaborative partner with Erika's Lighthouse and a community clinical ambassador. I have been involved with Erika’s Lighthouse for 19 years. I was a friend of Erika’s growing up and so my history with Erika’s Lighthouse began the day she passed away. I don’t really remember how or who told me or approached me with the ‘teen panel’, but I do remember meeting in the Washburn library weekly with those big bright poster boards discussing depression. Discussing our emotional needs, concerns, grieved, and honestly some questions we had about depression. It was a handful of us that had the privilege to talk openly about something shocking that had just happened within the community.

We then began helping plan and organize the first walkathon and explore how could this organization grow and progress. As we got older and Erika’s Lighthouse progressed, it felt like an honor to wear our Erika’s Lighthouse shirts to school and be on a teen panel. In high school we named ourselves the stigma busters as we fearlessly, although I do remember feeling so nervous about it, read anonymous true stories about our own struggles with the purpose of shedding light on real people, our peers that were not afraid to share their experiences with mental health. As a member of the teen board, I went to other high schools presenting, was in a video shown in schools regarding what we wanted others to know about depression and suicide, and was part of the Erika’s Lighthouse school club. When people ask about my history with Erika’s Lighthouse and I take time to really think about it- it has forever impacted my path in life, how I interact with people in my own profession as a therapist, how I parent, and how I feel comfortable talking about mental health. Erika’s Lighthouse is an organization unlike any other because of the impact it has and the feeling you get when being part of such a positive change. In 2021 someone I went to high school with, someone I never interacted with, never spoke to, reach out to me. He messaged me and said “I know we didn’t know each other, but I remember you saying something about your own mental health struggles. I found it comforting and I felt less alone when I saw you say that”. 14 years later, a statement made by the Erika’s Lighthouse teen panel member resonated in a now 30 something year old- and that is the power of Erika’s Lighthouse.

I then went off to college and got my bachelors degree in social work where I interned within schools. I moved on to obtain my Masters in Mental health counseling working with an array of populations, one being a residential treatment facility in Baltimore for adolescent males where I also worked within their school system. And then, because apparently I love moving, worked for the Department of Mental Health in South Carolina contracted within schools. My job was to provide therapy services within schools to decrease barriers to services. During that time, I saw such a need for education, advocacy, and more accessible services within these schools. I spoke openly about positive and healthy mental health to provide a welcoming environment. I kept my door open and many of my clients were proud to introduce me to their friends or even non clients would pop their head in ask “who are you?” and I would proudly explain who I was.

If it is one thing that I have personally and professionally learned from Erika’s Lighthouse it is openness and not being afraid to talk about the more intense, or scarier side of mental health. Being from the Chicagoland area and then moving to the south I was always told I was a more…direct, potentially confrontational therapist. However, this brought advantages. In 2020 I received the outstanding employee year award as well as the 2021 Louise Hassenplug nomination for outstanding clinician of the year in South Carolina. I believe I brought family engagement and family involvement because I did not shy away from hard

conversations. It brought families additional support, education, and understanding because I was direct with my concerns or maybe a little direct with the importance of parent involvement. Studies show that for children, adolescents, and teens that have more engaged parents and family have better clinical outcomes are. Erika’s Lighthouse taught me at such a young age, which I continue to practice as a professional adult, that positive family involvement and engagement allow children and teens to feel supported and loved, which helps positive change. Family involvement and family engagement begins openness, vulnerability, directness, and support. If we are direct and open about our emotional needs, struggles, and strengths, we create an empowering moment and a strong community. A community that I have been proud to be a part of and will continue to advocate for.