Exploring death literacy with allied health professionals: A cross-sectional survey in Australia.

Long Covid or Post-Covid-19 condition is a “multi-systemic illness” () with persisting physical symptom(s) lasting three or more months after SARS-CoV-2 infection (). In the UK 1.9 million people self-reported to have Long Covid in a survey completed in March 2023; 119,000 of these were children and adolescents (). Children and Young People (CYP) with Long Covid most commonly report symptoms of tiredness, shortness of breath and headaches (). The condition is reported to have an impact on everyday functioning () which can be debilitating (). However, there has been a diverse list of symptoms that have been associated with Long Covid in CYP, for example, confusion, ear-ache and hoarse voice (). Due to the recency of SARS-CoV-2, first being identified in December 2019 () Long Covid has also only recently been recognised as a condition (). It was initially first identified under the name “Long Covid” in May 2020 (); therefore, research is still in the early stages to understand and treat this condition. Symptoms associated with Long Covid in CYP were grouped by Fainardi () into different sub-types, for example gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and neurological/neuropsychiatric. The neurological/neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with Long Covid in CYP were broad, including irritability and mood disturbance, alongside difficulties sleeping, memory loss and headaches. This article will reference neuropsychiatric symptoms as those specifically associated with mental health or mood related disorders, for example low mood, irritability or anxiety. Early indications suggest that CYP with multiple physical symptoms three-months following Covid-19 infection experienced poorer mental health than CYP who did not have Long Covid ().