‘Vast majority’ of kids have suffered mental health decline during pandemic

The mental health of Australian children has deteriorated significantly over the last year due to COVID-19, according to new research from the ANU.

The mental health of Australian children has deteriorated significantly over the last year due to COVID-19, new analysis from The Australian National University shows. Picture: iStock

The mental health of Australian children has deteriorated significantly over the past year due to Covid-19, according to new research from the ANU.

Co-author Professor Nicholas Biddle said the mental health of adolescents and young adults was of “particular concern”.

“We found 71 per cent of parents and carers of Australians aged 15 to 18 reported worsening mental health conditions for their children,” he said. “A lot of this is due to the ongoing impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic – and, in particular, extended lockdowns.”

Parents and carers of Australians aged five to 18 say their children’s mental health and wellbeing is significantly worse off than a ­little over 12 months ago.

The analysis shows 61.8 per cent of parents and carers with children aged five to nine think their kids have worsening mental health conditions, while 63.4 per cent with children aged 10 to 14 said the same.

Mental health conditions were largely the same across gender. According to parents and carers, the pandemic has had either a small or large negative impact on the mental health of 60.2 per cent of boys aged two to 18. Parents and carers think the pandemic has had the same impact on 60.8 per cent of girls aged two to 18.

Co-author Professor Matthew Gray said the study also found that in some domestic situations, negative mental health outcomes for young children and teenagers were exacerbated by specific family circumstances.

“For example, outcomes appear to have worsened particularly for children where the parent or carer is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, lives in one of the states that have had long lockdown periods, or has high levels of psychological distress themselves,” Professor Gray said.

The survey also examined barriers to mental health support for young Australians.

One in five parents or carers, 20.8 per cent, reported that they needed mental health and wellbeing support for their children during the pandemic. Of those, 73.2 per cent said they sought help.

However, for those seeking help, 40.9 per cent said it was ­either difficult or very difficult to access mental health support. “Many parents and carers have struggled with accessing services during the Covid-19 period. Our data shows a particular need to increase support for those children who are struggling with poor mental health, and their families,” Professor Gray said.

Earlier this week, Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the government would provide the ACT with a $2.5m funding boost to ensure Canberrans can access urgent mental health support during the lockdown. He said the ­pandemic was having a significant impact on the mental health and wellbeing of young Australians.

“Many Australians, particularly our young, are doing it really tough,” he said. “The current outbreak and lockdowns are creating immense pressure and distress, and it is vital that we continue to support people’s mental and emotional wellbeing throughout these challenging times,” Mr Hunt said.