4.8 Changes to essential services and support • Children and young people said that they had been unable to access various services and supports because delivery had been cancelled, suspended, or changed in some way. Some were worried about the possibility that services would be reduced or changed. • Children and young people spoke about reduced or changed access to mental health services, including access to regular psychologists and counsellors. Some had been offered tele-counselling, but this did not suit everyone. • Children and young people raised concerns about reduced or changed access to other types of essential medical services: general practitioners, dentists, specialists, paediatricians, and hospitals. • Some children and young people raised concerns about reduced or changed access to disability support services, including access to school learning support, disability support care and respite care, and access to essential medical and supermarket items. Eleven percent (290) of children and young people raised COVID-19 in the context of changes to essential services and support. Concerns about changes to essential services and support was raised more frequently by older age groups. It was one of five top concerns for young people aged 18-24, especially males and transgender or gender diverse young people. It was not in the overall top five concerns for children aged under 18 years. It was, however, the top COVID-19 related concern raised by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. A quarter (25%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people raised these concerns, compared to only 12% of children and young people who do not identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. It was one of the top five concerns for males of CALD background. Children and young people commonly raised these concerns when they contacted Kids Helpline about their mental health, for example in discussion with the counsellor about how they can access treatment or help. Some said that they were unable to access their usual mental health services and supports. In some cases, this was because their psychologist or counsellor had suspended services, rescheduled appointments or changed their way of delivering services, which made it harder for them to access. State border closures were also cited as a reason for being unable to access a regular psychologist. In addition to psychologists and counsellors, children and young people mentioned the following types of services had been suspended or changed: group therapy sessions; school counselling; university counselling; hospital mental health care; social workers; mental health support groups; and counselling programs for children of separated parents. For children and young people with depression, anxiety and other disorders, changes in accessing their usual mental health supports was very distressing and even triggered or increased the effects of their mental health condition. Some had been offered tele-counselling, but they were uncertain whether this would suit them (although some said they had accessed telecounselling successfully). A few children and young people said that they were contacting Kids Helpline because they could not access their usual face-toface counsellor/psychologist. Rather than experiencing an actual reduction in service, some children and young people expressed heightened concern about the possibility that services would be reduced or changed, indicating a need for better information from services. A few enquired whether Kids Helpline itself would be able to continue under the pandemic. Some complained about the long wait to access Kids Helpline. Impacts of COVID-19 on children and young people who contact Kids Helpline • 2020 • 29