Section 6: Children’s current mental health and wellbeing In ‘something else’ responses, ‘anxiety’ was among the most prevalent emotion identified. Of parents/guardians and grandparents responding on behalf of their child, ‘happy’ was also the most commonly chosen emotion, followed by ‘neutral’. The third most commonly chosen emotion was ‘sad’, compared to the choice of ‘lonely’ by children completing the survey independently. 6.2 How has children’s mental health and wellbeing changed? Children were asked about their current feelings compared to their feelings before the pandemic. Specifically, they were asked if they felt more down, scared or worried, or the same compared to how they felt before the pandemic. 25% of children said that they felt the same as they did before the pandemic. 25% of children indicated that they felt more down, scared or worried. 9% of children did not know if they felt differently, and 26% of children did not respond to the question. This suggests at least 1 in 4 children have experienced a change in how they feel due to the pandemic. Older children were more likely to state that they felt more down, scared or worried than they used to. 32% of children aged 16–17, 27% of children aged 14–15, 28% of children aged 12–13, and 23% of children aged 9–11 stated, ‘I feel more down, scared or worried now than I used to’. These feelings may not be directly attributed to the pandemic but may be a result of increased pressures and stress placed on older children due to more schoolwork and responsibility (as explored in section 7.3). Older children may also be more aware of the longerterm impacts of the pandemic. Figure 13: Children’s survey: How do you feel now compared to before the pandemic? 26% 25% I feel more down, scared or worried now than I used to (n=1130) I feel the same as I always have (n=1150) I feel less scared or worried than I used to (n=417) 15% I don’t know (n=678) 25% Did not answer question (n=1184) 9% When parents/guardians and grandparents responding on behalf of their child were asked a similar question, 63% indicated that they thought their child was feeling more down, scared or worried compared to before the pandemic. Figure 14: Parents/guardians and grandparent’s survey: how do you think your child feels now compared to before the pandemic? 12% 3% 22% 63% 48 | My child feels more down, scared or worried now than they used to (n=553) My child feels the same as they always have (n=198) My child feels less down, scared or worried than they used to (n=28) Did not answer question (n=105) ‘Mental health shapes my life’: COVID-19 & kids’ wellbeing • 2022 | 49