All around the world, partnerships among schools and other youth-serving systems are promoting more comprehensive school-based mental health services. This article describes the development of international networks for school mental health (SMH) including the International Alliance for Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Schools (INTERCAMHS) and the more recent School Mental Health International Leadership Exchange (SMHILE). In conjunction with World Conferences on Mental Health Promotion, SMHILE has held pre-conference and planning meetings and has identified five critical themes for the advancement of global SMH: 1) Cross-sector collaboration in building systems of care; 2) meaningful youth and family engagement; 3) workforce development and mental health literacy; 4) implementation of evidence-based practices; and 5) ongoing monitoring and quality assurance. In this article we provide general background on SMH in four nations, two showing strong progress (the United States and Canada), one showing moderate progress (Norway), and one beginning the work (Liberia). Following general background for each country, actions in relation to the SMHILE themes are reviewed. The article concludes with plans and ideas for future global collaboration towards advancement of the SMH field.

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School counselors are increasingly being called upon to participate in collaborative mental health service delivery teams. This article provides information based in the language of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; AmericanPsychiatric Association, 1994) needed to enhance collaboration with physicians and mental health care providers. Brief descriptions of the more common DSM-IV disorders of childhood and adolescence, along with their prevalence and common approaches to diagnosis and treatment, and suggestions for enhancing referral and establishing a collaborative relationship are provided.

The focus of this article is on the impact of early life stress on the neurodevelopment of the stress response mechanisms of the brain. The functioning of the stress response system and mechanisms of neurodevelopmental change are described. The theoretical and clinical implications of the reviewed literature are discussed.

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