Section 7: How the pandemic affected children’s mental health and wellbeing In free-text responses, some children expressed worries about money or basic needs such as food during the pandemic: (b) Employment The loss of employment during the pandemic affected some children, parents/guardians and grandparents. In the AHRC’s report on the impacts of COVID-19 on children using Kids Helpline, economic impacts and job losses of parents in the early stages of the pandemic were a concern for some younger children.43 The concerns about the impacts of the pandemic on employment were also reflected in a number of free-text responses: When asked about their concerns and worries (see Figure 11), 398 (9%) children stated they were concerned about not having as much money as before the pandemic. It is uncertain whether this refers to their personal income or that of their parents/guardians and grandparents. This was also reiterated in children’s worries for the future (see section 9.2). When asked a similar question, 413 (15%) parents/guardians and grandparents responded that they worried about not being able to get a job, or unemployment. 86 | ‘Mental health shapes COVID-19 kids’wellbeing wellbeing •• 2022 2022 | 87 ‘Mental health shapes my my life’:life’: COVID-19 && kids’