4 | COVID-19 concerns raised by children and young people 4.4 Social isolation ‘Robert’, aged 16, rang Kids Helpline to say that he is having difficulty coping with the current restrictions due to COVID-19. After a year of being clean from self-harm (cutting), he has started up again. He said he was struggling being at home with his family. He would usually access the school counsellor and would be involved in sport and clubs, as a coping mechanism. But now he is at home, he is feeling more and more hopeless. ‘Frankie’, aged 15, rang Kids Helpline to say that her suicidal thoughts are more prevalent since the COVID-19 situation. She can’t see her friends and is finding remote schooling very challenging. She normally sees the school counsellor but currently has no contact due to COVID-19. ‘Christina’, aged 20, told Kids Helpline that her depression and anxiety have been bad lately because of the COVID-19 situation. She is at university, but it is hard to study online. She is finding that her compulsive behaviours, which include tearing at her skin, have got worse. She is also having frequent panic attacks and thoughts of suicide, whereas before COVID-19 she had not had any for several months. Having to self-isolate has also meant she can’t keep up her usual routines. She reflected on why she didn’t follow through with her plan to kill herself last year but said there was nothing to stop her going through with it today. • Children and young people were missing seeing their friends at school, and at university and work. • Some children and young people worried that they were unable to connect with friends who provide them with their main mental health support. • Some children and young people said that online socialising, while important, was insufficient. • Teenagers and young adults spoke about the impacts of being separated from their romantic partners. Social isolation as a result of the restrictions was one of the top concerns raised by children and young people of all ages, highlighting the importance of friendships and relationships outside of the family for many children and young people. Twenty-one percent (534) of children and young people raised COVID-19 in the context of social isolation. Although all ages and genders raised COVID-19 in the context of social isolation, slightly more females than males and transgender or gender diverse children and young people raised this concern. It was the second or third top concern for all age groups. Children and young people, especially teenagers, frequently expressed the view that their friends provide them with their main mental health support in times of crisis and were worried about being unable to connect with these friends because of social distancing measures. Some spoke of loneliness, feelings of abandonment, introspection, and insecurities about their friendships especially those with pre-existing mental health conditions. 20