Section 9: Looking to the future
(c) Fear for the world around them
Key stakeholders pointed out that the
cumulative impacts of the pandemic and
other major world events should not be
underestimated:
Many children also listed ‘big’ worries about
the world, including concerns about war,
the environment, and the impacts of global
warming/climate change. A 2019 survey by
ReachOut found that issues such as climate
change were top of the list of anxieties for
children aged 14 to 23.57
o ut
are d ab
I am sc
d
aine an
the Ukr r. I am
a
Russia w w ill turn
it
d
wor rie
r.
orld Wa
into a W
A
ged
—Girl, a
9–11, W
e
d th
n
a
e
e
ang rom th
h
c
f
ate
on
Clim of acti arge.
sed
isclo WA
lack s in ch
d
n
u
,
lt
with ed 9–11
a du
hild
g
—C der, a
gen
bo ut
r vo us a he
e
n
m
a
I
tt
act tha
the imp use d by
ca
ubbish
able
extra r
d dispos n
n
a
s
t
s
e
eo
RAT t
w ill hav
s
k
s
a
m
face
onment.
ir
v
n
e
e
th
speaks
ho
12–13, w her than
d
e
g
a
l,
—Gir
age ot
a langu
, NSW
at home
English
120 |
It was a perfect storm with natural
disasters and a global pandemic
happening one after the other.
I’m w
or
the p rie d that w
ollutio
ith all
n
have
to mo we’re go in
g to
ve to
planet
a diff
.
erent
—Boy
, aged
n—
I’m not having childre
ia
ss
Ru
there is no po int.
e
is go ing to blow up th
world an d China an d
climate change will
finish the rest.
9–11,
NSW
Exposure to previous adversity and
trauma was a big risk factor in the
pandemic. This came on the back of
droughts, bushfires, other life trauma
for some kids.
However, it is important to note that when
asked about hopes for the future (see section
9.1), a few children also spoke optimistically
about humanity’s ability to overcome these
problems.
as
—Child who identifies
ed
ag
non-binary or other,
9–11, NSW
(d) General pessimism about the future
The state of th
e
world, the
economy an d so
ciety
an d nearly eve
rything.
I wo r
r y tha
t the
wo uld
oc
b
becau e more po ean
llu
se
glo ves of masks te d
an
,
that h climate cha d
nge,
u mans
to go
extinc are go ing
t beca
of CO
VID.
use
—Girl
,a
specifi ged 9–11,
fro
c cultu
ral or m a
ethn
backg
round ic
, SA
—Child who id
entifies as
non-binary or ot
her,
aged 14–15, NSW
I feel
s
bushf care d of
ires in
o utba
the
ck.
—Girl
, aged
9–11,
Some children expressed general pessimism
about the future, saying that there was nothing
to be hopeful about. In free-text responses
to the survey, some parents/guardians and
grandparents also noted their children’s
decreased levels of optimism for the future.
o ut
appy ab t
h
t
o
n
I’m
migh
g that
anythin
future.
e
h
t
in
happen
11, SA
ged 9–
—Girl, a
I lo ok
for
nothing ward to
. I’m a
lr
failure
, I don ea dy a
’t pictu
anythin
re
g.
—Child
non-bin who identifies
ary
as
12–13, or other, age
d
w
it
had
from a
specific isability,
cult
ethnic
backgr ural or
ound, W
A
eing
trie d b
I
e
st
im
Each t
o uld ju
w
e
r
e
h
t
ho peful r ba d thing
e
h
be anot ene d right
pp
that ha
a
after!
1, from
ged 9–1
—Girl, a ltural or ethnic
cu
specific ackground, VIC
b
Key stakeholders also spoke about these
feelings of pessimism for the future, saying
there was a need for the child and welfare
sector to promote a positive narrative about the
future for children and young people. One key
stakeholder said:
The deficit narrative is another big fear
of mine. I want to hide in a cupboard
because it is all so bad. The sector needs
to offer hope and solutions, not just the
problems. We all know what lies ahead of
us and what the problem is, but how we
frame it publicly is so important. We need
to offer hope to kids and to people.
NSW
‘Mental health shapes my life’: COVID-19 & kids’ wellbeing • 2022 | 121