Section 7: How the pandemic affected children’s mental health and wellbeing et don’t g ullie d I e p o b Ih e d OR really i l l u b r it’s cybe cause e b n i aga . ing me IC affect 9–11, V aged —Girl, I’ve b e so it’ en cyber s har der t bullie d now. o lea rn —Gir l, age Despite having these concerns, parents/ guardians and grandparents indicated that using technology for games and social media was one of the top three things that helped their children stay happy and hopeful during the pandemic (see section 8.2). A number of children, and parents/guardians and grandparents also cited cyberbullying as a negative problem or experience with technology and social media over the past two years. 9% of children responding to this question said this was something they had experienced in the last two years. Likewise, 11% of parents/guardians and grandparents who answered the survey on their child’s behalf reported that their child had experienced this. These experiences were also spoken about in free-text responses: (a) Basic needs Although the economic impacts of the pandemic were not among the top worries for children, and parents/guardians and grandparents completing these surveys, a number of respondents expressed anxiety about financial hardship, job losses and unemployment. While the majority (75%) of parents/guardians and grandparents indicated they had enough money to meet the basic needs of their families, financial hardship was reported by 13% who did not have enough money for basic needs. Some groups were more likely to report they did not have enough money for basic needs, including 32% of parents/guardians and grandparents with a disability, and 26% who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Figure 21: Parents/guardians and grandparent’s survey: have you and your family had enough money for basic needs (like food, housing, transport, clothes, school) over the last two years? 15, N SW ck to Go ing ba hard, as scho ol is he le fro m t p o e p e g m so berbullyin y c e r a l scho o . hurts me it d n a , me IC ed 9–11, —Girl, ag V 10% 2% 13% 76% Yes (n=2113) No (n=355) I don’t know (n=51) Did not answer question (n=277) A positive aspect of technology expressed by some children was that it facilitated contact with family and friends: I’m gla dt have co hat we can ol that we technolog ies c co m mun an use to icate ea s family membe ier w ith rs fro m far awa y! —Boy, 84 | d 14– 7.8 Economic impacts aged 12 –13, NS W ‘Mental health shapes my life’: COVID-19 & kids’ wellbeing • 2022 | 85