5 SECTION Children’s mental health and wellbeing over the past two years This section covers the impact of the pandemic on children’s mental health and wellbeing over the last two years. Section 5.1 explores whether the pandemic had a negative impact on children, and discusses the survey results across different demographic groups. Section 5.2 focuses on the worries and concerns identified by children. Broadly, the survey illustrated that many children believe their mental health and wellbeing declined over the past two years, either directly or indirectly, as a result of the pandemic. Parents/guardians and grandparents answering the survey on behalf of their children also believed their children experienced negative impacts, more so than children themselves. 5.1 Did the pandemic have a negative impact on children? The impacts of the pandemic, however, are not homogenous. Children from across Australia, with unique and diverse experiences, faced the pandemic in different ways. This is best illustrated in section 8.2, showing that different groups of children were concerned or worried about different things. The most common response was that the pandemic had a negative impact on their mental health and wellbeing (41%). 19% of children indicated ‘no’ and 19% selected ‘I don’t know’. 21% of children did not answer the question. Children were asked in the survey to respond either ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘I don’t know’ to the statement, ‘I felt like the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on my wellbeing’. Figure 8: Children’s survey: I felt like the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on my wellbeing 21% 41% 19% Yes (n=1852) No (n=887) I don’t know (n=843) Did not answer question (n=977) 19% 38 | ‘Mental health shapes my life’: COVID-19 & kids’ wellbeing • 2022 | 39