In recent years, an increasing number of young adults have found themselves outside education or employment due to mental health–related reasons. Many also live in a kind of in between state: balancing at the limits of their coping capacity and questioning whether studying or working is possible at all and for how long their energy will last. These individual experiences are closely tied to broader societal conditions that shape young people’s opportunities and their sense of belonging.
This research examines the experiences of young adults who struggle to enter or stay engaged in work or education because of mental health challenges. Focusing on young people’s own perspectives, the study seeks to understand how uncertainty about one’s work ability and place in society emerges, develops, and becomes visible in everyday life. The aim is to deepen knowledge of the societal factors that contribute to mental health problems among young adults. The study identifies those conditions and structures that limit young adults’ opportunities to participate in work or education.
The research generates insights that can support the development of more inclusive practices in education and working life, as well as strengthen mental health–sensitive support services. By making structural barriers and young people’s experiences visible, the study provides understanding that can help policymakers, professionals, and educational actors create better conditions for young adults’ wellbeing and participation.