According to the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013), an substance use disorder (SUD) involves patterns of symptoms caused by using a substance that an individual continues taking despite its negative effects. Though there are 11 specific DSM-5 criteria for an SUD, they…

Identity development is a critical process common to the human experience across all demographics. While everyone engages in identity development, the range of nuances in identity that need to be navigated makes the process more complicated. As children progress through adolescence, developing their unique identity becomes a vital task in which…

Adolescents' access to and use of social media is very staggering, with an estimated 95% of adolescents reportedly having access to a smartphone, which subsequently gives them nearly unlimited access to the online world; this is reflected in an estimated 45% of adolescents indicating that they are online almost constantly. The purpose of this…

School-based mental health professionals are in an ideal position to intervene and prevent problematic substance use among adolescents (Lasser & Schmidt, 2010). Although specialized graduate training in addictions is commonplace for clinical, counseling, and social work, it has not been as readily available in preservice programs for school…

Conduct disorder (CD) is a pattern of repeated aggression toward others, disregard for the rights of others, and behaviors that violate major social norms at home, in school, and even in society at large (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Falling under the umbrella of "conduct problems" along with oppositional defiant…

Approximately 30% of adolescents in the United States who date were affected by teen dating violence (TDV) in 2013, according to self-report from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS; Vagi, Olsen, Basile, & Vivolo-Kantor, 2015). Limited interest in researching TDV arose around 30 years ago. In the past 10 years, research on TDV and…

School psychologists are asked to provide a number of different services in schools, including evaluating and providing recommendations to educators and parents on children and adolescents with rare genetic conditions. One genetic disorder with physical, cognitive, and behavioral features is Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). PWS is a unique genetic…

The suicide of a student has a rippling effect in the school environment as well as in the greater community, as a single adolescent death by suicide increases the risk of additional suicides. The process by which a completed suicide (or at times, suicidal behavior) increases the suicidal behavior of others is called contagion. When multiple…

Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children and adolescents under the age of 19 (Mullin, 2018); but, due to scientific research and treatment advancements, there is an approximately 80% chance of survival from leukemia (Castillo, 2008). Most children receive a diagnosis of leukemia between the ages of 2 and 7 years old. The peak age of…

This and the forthcoming issue of "Communiqué" feature a two-part series covering the path youth may take toward and away from violent extremism. This first part sheds light on violent extremism, a timely and often misunderstood topic among school psychologists, related professionals and the public. Research suggests that it generally is…

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) is one of the new child and adolescent diagnoses introduced in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (5th ed.; DSM-5). DMDD is characterized by chronic, severe, and persistent irritability (APA, 2013) and was introduced for the purpose of helping to address challenges…

Children and adolescents with chronic health problems represent a growing population of students in schools, with previous studies estimating that anywhere from 10% to 30% of school-age children will experience a chronic illness at some point during their elementary and secondary education (Canter & Roberts, 2012). A chronic health condition…

School psychologists are uniquely trained to deliver high quality mental and behavioral health services in the school setting to ensure all students have the support they need to be successful in school, at home, and throughout life. School psychologists are uniquely positioned in schools to facilitate the development, delivery, and monitoring of…

Extensive research suggests that adolescence is a critical developmental period, especially when it comes to factors that influence mental health problems. Systematic efforts to promote adolescent help-seeking are essential for improving long-term mental health outcomes. Defined as a "behavior of actively seeking help from other people,"…

This article provides an overview of the joint "Resolution on Gender and Sexual Orientation Diversity in Children and Adolescents in Schools" that was adopted by the American Psychological Association's (APA) Council of Representatives (CoR) and the National Association of School Psychologists' (NASP) Leadership Assembly during the…