Some children pointed out that mental health and wellbeing should be
treated with the same importance as physical health:
I al
s
som o think
e
don’ thing t it is
t re
ally hat peo
as m
p
t
or a uch as hink a le
b
a
o
blee
ding sore ar ut
m
fo ot
—C
.
h
having a rtant
t
a
h
t
k
po
I thin
is as im
in
a
r
b
rt.
healthy
lthy hea
a
e
h
a
g
as havin
9–11, VIC
ged
—Boy, a
o
for to
d
a
s
l
le.
e
yo u fe to tell peo p
n
e
h
W
d
o u nee
s.
long, y Da d. Frien d
r
3, QLD
d 12–1
Mu m o
—Boy,
ild w
non ho ide
ntifi
-bin
age ary or es as
o
d 12
–13 ther,
, NS
W
me
alth to nt
e
h
l
a
t
Men
orta
ost imp ts yo ur
m
e
h
t
is
pac
see
as it im
g to o. I ly
in
health
e
b
l
l
l we
high
physica n ds that are
e an d
rie
many f by the climat
d
y
impacte
. An d m ritical
is
is
r
c
19
as c
COVIDin just
is
g
emier
in
well-be el that my pr s as a
fe
gu
state. I
rotectin e crisis.
p
t
a
d
e
th
has fail his ro un d of
LD
nt
2–13, Q
state o
, aged 1
—Boy
Children also raised the importance of getting
support for mental health and wellbeing:
Wha
tw
m
enta e think
well
l li
ou
w
feeli e can co fe is like r
n
.
p
can gs an d h e w ith o How
cont
o
u
w
r
ea
ro
how
we m l them, a sily we
healt
n
a
h is ke sure d also
lo oke
sure
o
d aft ur menta
t
we n hat we
e
l
r. M
s
ee d
any eek supp aking
extr
a he ort if
lp.
—B
age
oy, a
Yo ur
m
healt o o d, feeli
h.
ng
I bel If yo u ar s an d me
ieve it
n
e me
ntally tal
an d j
i
s
j
u
st as
u
i
impor ll,
physi st as ba d
cally
t
a
injure s if yo u a ant
re
d or
ill.
—Gir
l, age
d 9–1
1, VIC
Mental health and
wellbeing is basically
thoughts in your brain and if
they are unhealthy thoughts
such as suicide thoughts,
you should definitely get
mental help from a school
psychologist or counsellor
inside or outside of school.
ged 1
2–13
, NSW
—Girl, aged 9–11, NSW
How you feel physically
and emotionally if you have
motivation to do the little
things and have any
feeling of self-worth.
—Girl, aged 16–17, NSW
36 |
‘Mental
health
shapes
COVID-19
kids’wellbeing
wellbeing •• 2022
2022 | 37
‘Mental
health
shapes
my my
life’:life’:
COVID-19
&&
kids’