More young people experience mental distress in the Nordic countries. A new mapping provides insight into a number of risk factors, which include excessive use of digital media, loneliness and various social conditions. Protective factors include good relationships in school and physical activity. The paper contributes to an overview of the Nordic countries’ organisation of efforts aimed at children and young people in mental distress, including a description of the cross-sectoral collaboration between the healthcare and social services sectors in each of the Nordic countries. The division of responsibilities between the healthcare and social services sectors differs among the Nordic countries. The Nordic countries are divided into regions and municipalities which are responsible in different ways for young people in mental distress. As the division of responsibilities differs between the countries, the cross-sectoral collaboration within them does as well.