Samantha Batchelor|Stoyan Stoyanov|Jane Pirkis|Kairi Kõlves
Use of Kids Helpline by Children and Young People in Australia During the COVID-19 Pandemic
University of Melbourne|Griffith University
h2abstracth2h3purposeh3 benefits helplines particularly valuable pandemic facetoface services natural supports difficult access kids helpline australias national youth helpline provides children young people free 247 information counseling telephone webchat email aimed examine use kids helpline covid19 pandemic h3methodsh3 analyzed monthly weekly time trends demand response kids helpline frequency counseling contacts common concern types age gender also examined used joinpoint regression h3resultsh3 analyses weekly demand kids helpline showed increase pandemic declared followed gradual decline second rise 12 july 2020 parts australia experienced second wave infections followed another decline occurred recently increased demand almost entirely webchat modality answered counseling contacts girls aged 1318 years number contacts mental health suicideselfharm family relationships increased mental health contacts also increasing proportion total contacts covid19related concerns common reason contact april 2020 h3conclusionsh3 australia covid19 pandemic saw rapid increase demand kids helpline mainly webchat virus mental health suicideselfharm relationships common reasons contact responding rapid changes demand particular modalities challenging understanding use effectiveness different modalities needed