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The importance of multi-agency collaboration has been emphasised in virtually every piece of recently published guidance relating to the development of children's services including CAMHS. The Government Green Paper, Every child matters (DfES, 2003), which proposes the development of Children's Trusts, will further impact on this agenda. Surprisingly, there has been much less written about factors contributing to the success of multi-agency collaboration than there has about barriers to it. Research is beginning to emerge informing on key criteria required for the development of multi-agency collaborations for children with mental health problems. Much work remains to be undertaken on the use of language and definitions between agencies before a common understanding about children's needs and the services they require can evolve.

A B S T R A C TThis article reviews the literature on bullying with particular reference to associated psychiatric symptoms and presents data and case examples from an inpatient and outpatient adolescent service and a school for emotionally and behaviourally disturbed children (EBD school). Bullying or its effects do not seem to be a distinguishing factor among those admitted to an adolescent unit. In the outpatient group, however, being bullied is frequently a factor in the presentation of adolescents to psychiatric services, with depression being the diagnosis in over 70% of cases. In contrast, bullies and bully/victims were most likely to present with conduct disorders, which were frequently co-morbid with hyperkinetic disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Unsurprisingly, regardless of whether bully, victim, bully/victim or neither, the most common psychiatric diagnosis of the EBD school pupils who were interviewed was that of conduct disorder. This was sometimes co-morbid with AD(H)D but also seen alongside generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.In an adolescent unit and in an EBD school, being bullied or a bully is an important factor associated with psychiatric symptomatology and should be regarded as a substantial mental and public health issue. K E Y W O R D S adolescent, bully, depression, health, victim

It is now widely agreed that meeting the mental health needs of children and young people is a task only possible if all children's services work together. Recent epidemiological data indicate that schools are a key entry point to mental health services for children and young people, and have an important role in the assessment and management of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. This paper explores the rationale for collaborative working between health and educational professionals, examines some examples of good practice, explores factors contributing to their success or failure and considers future developments.

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