Others spoke about socialising as one of their main activities outside of work or school. Without being able to go out and socialise, several older children and young adults said they were bored and lacking motivation. Some children and young people said that online socialising, while important, was insufficient, and that keeping in contact with friends through online formats was difficult. Some talked about how online socialising led to misinterpreting relationships with friends, for example anxieties that friends were deliberately not contacting or ostracising them. School is a primary place for children to socialise. Many children said that they missed seeing their friends at school. This was not only confined to younger children. University students also lamented the loss of social connection usually provided through attending classes and campuses in person. Young adults also missed seeing their work colleagues. Teenagers raised the adverse impacts of social distancing measures on their romantic relationships, in some cases causing them significant anxiety and distress. Some said they were desperate to see their partners, but were unable to because of COVID-19 restrictions, or were forbidden by their parents, which then caused family conflict. Young adults also spoke about being separated from their partners, which added to their loneliness, and placed additional stress on their relationships. Social isolation was mentioned as especially hard for some young adults who live alone, and those who were unable to return to live with families. For example, young international students living alone without family in Australia, and who are unable to work, study or socialise due to the restrictions. Case studies: Social isolation ‘Molly’, aged 10, rang Kids Helpline because she is missing her schoolfriends. She feels sad that she can’t see them and says that talking to them online just isn’t the same. Her mother helped her make the call and was asking the Helpline for ideas on how to make her daughter happier during the lockdown. ‘Melissa’, aged 16, told Kids Helpline she is missing her friends hugely. She enjoys being around people and relies on them for support. But with lockdown she is feeling disconnected and lonely, and she wonders why her friends don’t contact her online as much as she contacts them. ‘Lucas’, aged 17, contacted Kids Helpline because he is worried about his girlfriend, who has been making comments about not wanting to be here anymore, saying that everyone hates her. But due to the lockdown measures he can’t see her in person. His parents have forbidden him to meet with her because they are fearful of COVID-19 and keeping the rules, but he feels that not seeing her is making it worse. He doesn’t know what to do and is not sleeping at night. ‘Gabriela’, aged 18, rang Kids Helpline to talk about some recent stressors in her life that have made her feel depressed, including self-isolation due to a coronavirus scare at her university. When she was in high school, she was diagnosed with depression, and experienced suicidal ideation and self-harm. Now, in lockdown, she is feeling grief and loss over separation from her friends, especially not being able to get hugs from them. She is aware that the urge to self-harm is increasing. Impacts of COVID-19 on children and young people who contact Kids Helpline • 2020 • 21