Section 8: Supporting children’s mental health
In 2021 consultations for the AHRC’s Keeping
Kids Safe and Well report, children also said they
found it hard to build trust over the phone.49
A few children reported that even the phone
and online services were not always available to
support children during this period when they
needed it:
Parents/guardians and grandparents also
recognised children’s need for face-to-face
supports. In free-text responses, some said that
using telehealth during the pandemic did not
suit their child or was difficult and inconvenient
for other reasons. In some cases, the difficulties
of using telehealth for their child meant that
their child lost important mental health support.
8.6 Did children need extra support?
We asked children if there was a time over the past 2 years when they needed extra support but were
not able to get the help they needed, 16% stated ‘yes’. In contrast, almost half (40%) of the parents/
guardians and grandparents responding on their child’s behalf felt their child needed extra support
for their mental health and wellbeing over the last two years but were unable to get it.
Figure 29: Children’s survey: did you feel that you needed extra support over the last two years
but were unable to get it?
16%
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In
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un
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g
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—G
29%
My son’s
on
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sitive
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Yes (n=735)
No (n=1676)
I don’t know (n=839)
Did not answer question
(n=1309)
18%
37%
—Mothe
r, NSW
I attem
pte
Helpline d to use Ki ds
fo
unanswe r a dvice but wa
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—Boy, a
ged 14–
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specific
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und, NS
W
102 |
These findings were different among some
groups. The following groups were more likely
to indicate that they needed extra help but were
unable to get it:
•
47% of children identifying as non-binary
or other
•
31% of children with a disability
•
22% of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait
Islander children.
This may reflect the unique and diverse needs
of these groups, and the barriers they face in
order to receive help. This is reflected in other
research which suggests many Aboriginal and/or
Torres Strait Islander children feel that service
providers are unable to understand their needs
or experiences.50 For children with disabilities,
some research suggests, cancellations of service
and support workers and limited additional
supports through NDIS has created difficulties
and challenges in receiving the help these
families need.51
‘Mental health shapes my life’: COVID-19 & kids’ wellbeing • 2022 | 103