4.10 Fear of contracting COVID-19 Some children and young people raised fears that they, or someone that they know, may contract COVID-19. Interestingly, slightly more children raised these fears on behalf of someone else rather than themselves, perhaps reflecting the widespread view in the media that older people are more likely to succumb to the effects of the virus than young people. The proportion of contacts that raised these concerns gradually decreased between January and the end of April, suggesting that as more children and young people received information and as restrictions were put in place, their anxiety about themselves or others contracting COVID-19 also decreased. (a) Fear of someone else contracting COVID-19 • Some children and young people are fearful that someone that they know may contract COVID-19. • This fear was raised more frequently by younger children. Seven percent (178) of children and young people raised fears that someone else may contract COVID-19. These concerns were raised more frequently by younger children. It was one of the top five concerns for all children aged 5-10, and for males aged 11-14. Children and young people expressed worries and concerns for a variety of people, including grandparents, uncles, aunts, parents, and friends. They also expressed concern about family and friends who had health issues that might make them vulnerable to COVID-19, including those in hospital for other conditions. There were also some concerns for relatives (primarily parents) that work in areas of possible high exposure, such as nurses, childcare workers, doctors, and supermarket workers. Case studies: Fear of someone else contracting COVID-19 ‘Nic’, aged 13, has ADHD and ASD. He contacted Kids Helpline because he has been feeling anxious about a lot of things lately. He is especially worried about his friend with a weak immune system and whether he would get COVID-19. ‘Lyndsey’, aged 14, called Kids Helpline because her grandmother is 88 years old with a lung infection, and she is worried that her grandmother might get COVID-19 and die. Her grandmother lives in another city, but she lived with Lyndsey and her family for a few years, and they became close. She is so worried that she finds she can’t stop thinking at night and cries a lot. ‘Sophia’, aged 16, told Kids Helpline that she is feeling really anxious because of the COVID situation. She is really worried for her mother, who is a doctor, and who is always busy since the virus. She is also shaken up by the amount of racism that she has seen around her and worries that her mother may experience that in her job as well. (b) Fear of contracting COVID-19 • Some children and young people are fearful that they will contract COVID-19 themselves. • This fear was raised more frequently by the youngest and the oldest age cohorts, and by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. Impacts of COVID-19 on children and young people who contact Kids Helpline • 2020 • 35