The aim of this article is to focus on the topic of mental distress among children and young people, which is on the rise. The phenomenon of distress is placed in a contemporary socio-cultural context in which both causes, and solutions are sought. After analysing the existing sources of access to support for children and young people and concluding that they are not sufficient, the reflection turns to a broader, community-based set of potential sources of support for young people. The school is placed at the centre of the discussion as a potential source of both distress and support for young people. It is presented as a so-called natural source of support, which has the power to reach almost all children and therefore has a large reach. The article concludes that the current orientation of the school environment would need to rethink existing priorities if it is to truly present a protective environment for children and young people facing distress.
