Typically, children and young people raised this
issue in conjunction with other concerns, without
elaborating on their parent/carer’s concerns. It
included reports of parents/carers being concerned
about their children catching the virus, especially
if they have a health condition, and also worries
about themselves or other members of the family
getting the virus. As a result, some parents and
carers had put restrictions on children and young
people, such as not allowing them to visit their
girlfriend/boyfriend, making them live in a separate
part of the house, not allowing them to go out
with friends, and postponing visits to hospitals and
other services. Children expressed sadness and
disappointment at these restrictions.
Case study:
Parent/carer concerns
about COVID-19
‘Perry’, aged 16, reported to Kids Helpline
that he is feeling stressed and anxious about
COVID-19. His parents are taking it very
seriously as his grandfather recently had
pneumonia. He said he was so desperate to
see his girlfriend that he went for a walk and
dropped over to her place to say hi. But his
mother has just found out and he is in big
trouble and may even be kicked out of the
house.
(b) Presence of parents, carers, and other
support people during Kids Helpline contact
Parents and carers and other support people
can play an important role in helping children
and young people access support and advice
through Kids Helpline.
In 104 contacts to Kids Helpline, parents, carers and
other support people were noted as having either
facilitated the child’s or young person’s contact with
Kids Helpline or were present during the contact.
This was more common for the youngest age
group, and when the COVID-19 related concern
was about the mental health of the child or young
person.
For contacts where children and young people
raised mental health concerns resulting from
COVID-19, a parent, carer or other support person
was present in 39% of those aged 5-10; 35% of
those aged 11-14; 29% of those aged 15-17; and
25% of those aged 18-25.
This highlights the important role that parents,
and carers and other support people can play in
helping a child or young person seek help from Kids
Helpline.
4.12 Anxiety and confusion from
hearing about COVID-19 in media
Some children and young people said they
heard about COVID-19 in the media and were
anxious or confused about what they heard.
Three percent (65) of children and young people
raised COVID-19 in the context of hearing about it
in the media, expressing some anxiety or confusion
as a result.
Children and young people aged 5-10 and 18-25
were slightly more likely to raise this concern than
children aged 11-14 and 15-17.
Impacts of COVID-19 on children and young people who contact Kids Helpline • 2020 • 37