4 | COVID-19 concerns raised by children and young people 4.6 Impacts on family life ‘Jasmin’, aged 17, had been diagnosed with anxiety from childhood trauma. She rang Kids Helpline to talk about her mental health, saying that while things have gone well for a few years, they are now going downhill. Due to the coronavirus she is at home and isolated from school. Usually school was helping her mental health because it was a distraction, and gave her connections with people, a routine and a safe place away from home. Now she finds she is sleeping longer, not showering until 3pm and not eating or drinking much. ‘Samira’, aged 12, spoke to Kids Helpline about her feelings now she is going back to school tomorrow after COVID-19 restrictions have ended. She has been having trouble with forming friendships for several years and has been bullied before. She is worried she will annoy people at school and isn’t sure which of her friends will be there when she gets back. ‘Jason’, aged 14, contacted Kids Helpline feeling bad, as his dad wanted him to go back to school today. He prefers doing online learning at home because there are fewer distractions and he can do things at his own pace and listen to music and movies when he wants a break. He is also worried about going back to school as he has a weak immune system and his school is a COVID-19 hotspot. • Children and young people spoke about increased tensions within families due to living so closely together, financial stress and the lack of outside supports and activities. • Some children and young people at risk of violence and abuse felt trapped and unable to run away at this time. • Some children and young people in out-ofhome care raised difficulties in relationships with their foster family in lockdown, feeling trapped, and reduced access to support and services. • Young adults, who had been living away from their families while studying or working, raised difficulties of returning to live with family due to COVID-19, its economic impacts and the restrictions. • Some children and young people expressed sadness and worry at being separated from family members who were in other locations, including interstate, overseas or in hospital due to COVID-19 and its restrictions. The impacts of COVID-19 on family life was among the top three concerns for almost all age groups and both genders. Nineteen percent (494) of children and young people raised COVID-19 in the context of impacts on family life. These concerns were raised more frequently by children and young people aged 11-14 and 15‑17. Overall, females were more likely to raise this concern than males or transgender or gender diverse children and young people. It was the second top concern raised by females aged 5-10 and females aged 15-17. It was the top concern for CALD children and young people aged 11-14 and 15-17. 24