{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]],"date-time":"2026-08-17T11:27:03Z","timestamp":1786966023746,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,15]],"date-time":"2026-08-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786752000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nurs. Rep.","Nursing Reports"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Young people\u2019s mental health is increasingly discussed using diagnostic terms. However, limited knowledge exists about how young people describe distress and support needs. This study explored how young people with self-reported functional difficulties described challenges affecting their mental health and everyday lives. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using 137 anonymized chat and text message contacts from BRIS (Children\u2019s Rights in Society), a Swedish youth helpline. Contacts registered within the category \u201cFunctional Impairments\u201d were selected through predefined inclusion criteria. The material was analysed in Swedish using Framework Analysis. Results: One overarching theme, Trying to Survive in an Emotional Storm, was identified, comprising three subthemes: Social Environment\u2014Between Norm Pressure and the Need for Support, A Constant Struggle in the Educational System and Insufficient Parental Support\u2014Between Desire for Help and Barriers to Understanding. Young people described challenges related to social relationships, school demands, and limited support from adults. Self-reported diagnostic labels, particularly ADHD, were used to explain and communicate distress. Conclusions: The findings suggest that distress was closely linked to social and contextual circumstances. For nurses and other mental health professionals, the findings highlight the importance of listening to young people\u2019s narratives and supporting participation, autonomy, and meaning-making.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nursrep16080284","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]],"date-time":"2026-08-17T10:04:36Z","timestamp":1786961076000},"page":"284","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Trying to Survive in an Emotional Storm: A Qualitative Framework Analysis of Anonymous Youth Helpline Conversations on Mental Health and Everyday Life"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-1669-4609","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nina","family":"G\u00e5revik","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Sciences, Swedish Red Cross University, P.O. Box 1059, SE-141 21 Huddinge, Sweden"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Petra","family":"L\u00f6fstedt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 400, SE-405 30 G\u00f6teborg, Sweden"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4079-8902","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lilly","family":"Augustine","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CHILD, School of Education and Communication, J\u00f6nk\u00f6ping University, P.O. Box 1026, SE-551 11 J\u00f6nk\u00f6ping, Sweden"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1007-1959","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lise-Lott","family":"Rydstr\u00f6m","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Fack 23400, SE-141 83 Huddinge, Sweden"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4570-4047","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria","family":"Jirwe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Sciences, Swedish Red Cross University, P.O. Box 1059, SE-141 21 Huddinge, Sweden"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (2025). 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