7 SECTION How the pandemic affected children’s mental health and wellbeing 7.1 Lack of social connectedness Children experienced the pandemic in different ways, depending on their circumstances and their ability to access help and support. In responses to open-ended questions, children, parents/guardians and grandparents revealed how the pandemic had affected their lives. Their key concerns were negative impacts on social connectedness (section 7.1), physical health and wellbeing (section 7.2), education (section 7.3) social development (section 7.4), safety at home (section 7.5), news and information (section 7.6), digital technology and social media (section 7.7), and economic impacts (section 7.8). (a) Loneliness, sadness, and anger The lack of connectedness to others contributed to many children feeling lonely, isolated, sad, and angry. he an d t s s e n Loneli t I wo uld y ha fact t sa d an d cr l e know mly fe ran do n d I di dn’t ing a av alone also h y da d. s a w why. I ghts w ith m NSW fi 2–13, 1 many d e g ,a The lack of social connectedness during the pandemic was the top concern raised by children, parents/guardians and grandparents in the surveys. This is a common finding in other research on the impacts of the pandemic on children and young people, with lack of social connection and engagement with others, combined with feelings of isolation, stress and loneliness being linked to poor mental health.26 I nee d e d sup p o rt w my pro ith blems an d loneline ss. —Boy, I was lonely and needed someone to help me through it. —Girl, aged 9–11, WA —Girl, aged 9– 11, NSW o meone to I nee de d s ry ut how ang talk to abo I get. 1, y, aged 9–1 —Bo Torres inal and/or g ri o Ab er, NSW Strait Island 54 | 2–13, w ith a disabil ity, VIC Feelin g at ev alone an d er yon e. I j angr y nee de ust d so m me a n d te eone to h ll me e be ok it wo lp ay. uld —Gir l, speci aged 12– fic cu 1 ltural 3, from o r eth backg round nic , VIC —Girl I was beco m ing really down during lockdowns. aged 1 I needed more care than usual because I was crying for no reason. —Boy, aged 9–11, from a specific cultural or ethnic background, SA I wan t feel e d help to bette r insi becau de s alway e I was s gru m down or py. —Gir l, age d 12– 13, SA ‘Mental health shapes COVID-19 kids’wellbeing wellbeing •• 2022 2022 | 55 ‘Mental health shapes my my life’:life’: COVID-19 && kids’