The School Mental Health International Leadership Exchange (SMHILE): working to advance the field through opportunities for global networking

Abstract

We are pleased to present this special issue, in conjunction with the 9th World Congress on the Promotion of Mental Health and the Prevention of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders held in Columbia, South Carolina in September 2015. School mental health (SMH) has always been a significant emphasis within the broader mental health promotion field, and within these conferences since their inception in Atlanta in 2000 (see www. cliffordbeersfoundation.org). This special issue features the work of leaders in the SMH field who have been involved in global networking to improve practice, policy, research and the interconnections among them since the early 2000s. As this important work has been fueled by networking opportunities afforded by the world congresses, it is appropriate to share these papers, and to introduce the School Mental Health International Leadership Exchange (SMHILE; www.smhile.com) at this juncture. SMHILE is a recently launched initiative designed to capitalize on the collective wisdom of leaders, researchers and practitioners from numerous countries involved in the burgeoning SMH field. Following this introduction, the issue includes four articles, from core SMHILE members and collaborators, reflecting important dimensions of the work needed to further advance SMH. SMHILE aspires to provide leadership to the SMH field, and through this special series aims to highlight current concepts and research that may help to galvanize efforts across communities, states, regions and nations.