This digest describes the uniqueness of one of the youngest service provider professions in existence, mental health counseling (MHC). A history is given of how the founders of this profession were able to establish a professional organization and identity. The identity of the mental health counselor is described as an aggregate of educational,…

Concerns about enhancing availability and access to mental health services in schools range from sparse resources to the proliferation of piecemeal and overspecialized interventions arising from categorical funding. This paper discusses such concerns and stresses that they must be addressed from a perspective that fully appreciates the degree to…

This book is intended to aid educators in understanding the phenomenon of suicidal behavior among youth and in developing programs for intervention within the school setting. The first section, aimed toward an understanding of the phenomenon, covers risk factors, history, current trends, research, the problem of contagion, three levels of…

This ERIC/EECE report summarizes recent documents and journal articles, and highlights some World Wide Web resources that focus on educational and classroom environments that can support children's social, emotional, and psychological development. Annotations are provided for seven ERIC documents, four ERIC journal articles, and two web resources.…

Crisis intervention requires that the person experiencing crisis receive timely and skillful support to help cope with his/her situation before future physical or emotional deterioration occurs. This Digest provides a brief, conceptual overview of crisis intervention, and summarizes the steps a worker may use to assist an individual experiencing…

Self-mutilation has been most commonly seen as a diagnostic indicator for borderline personality disorder. However, practitioners have more recently observed self-harming behavior among those individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, multiple personality disorder, borderline personality disorder,…

Online support groups have the potential to improve the access and delivery of services to a wide range of people who reside worldwide. They provide an alternative vehicle of support for people in distress when it may be culturally stigmatizing to seek face-to-face support. They are not appropriate for everyone, nor can everyone worldwide access…

This two-page information review presents a brief review of research literature which reinforces the belief that regular physical education programs included in school curricula produces physical, psychological, and intellectual benefits. Eighteen references are cited. (JD)

A review of the ERIC literature on stress is presented, revealing counselors' incorporation of stress management techniques into their work with clients as well as their own coping mechanisms for dealing with stress in their personal and professional lives. The materials provide an overview of stress, its effects on students, women, families,…

Comprehensive school health education (CSHE) can help youth obtain the greatest benefits from education and become healthy and productive adults. One child out of four has an emotional, social, or physical health limitation that interferes with learning. Because schools have the capacity to reach 53 million students every year for 12 years, they…

As a follow-up to "Cybercounseling and Cyberlearning: Strategies and Resources for the Millennium," this book offers information beneficial to the counseling practice and counselor education classrooms. Part 1, "CyberLearning," contains the following chapters: (1) "Designing Web Pages Accessible to All" (J. E. Wheaton…

This digest briefly summarizes the parallel development of outdoor education and outdoor therapeutic programs for troubled and adjudicated youth, describes the rationale supporting outdoor approaches, and reports related research and evaluation findings. First attempts to use the outdoors as a healing environment were "tent therapy"…

This brief information sheet summarizes the types of social-emotional problems common among gifted children and suggests preventive actions schools can take. A table lists problems associated with characteristic strengths of gifted children. Specific problems briefly addressed include: uneven development, peer relations, excessive self-criticism,…

Lists sources of stress among Southeast Asian refugees as: (1) the Vietnam war and evacuation; (2) underemployment and unemployment; (3) cultural differences; (4) changing roles within the family; and (5) social disruption or inadequate social ties. Also details major groups at risk, correlations between stress and children's age on migrating, and…

With the enactment of the "Education for All Handicapped Children Act" of 1975, all children are entitled to appropriate free education and related services regardless of disabilities. As a result, major strides have been made toward providing services for developmentally delayed children. To gain access to these services, children who…