Sophia Newton’s ‘Listen’: A powerful call to advocate for children’s mental health

By Sophia Newton

Today, October 10, is World Mental Health Day, a time when people around the world unite to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and take action for better mental health. Conversations often focus on adults, but children’s mental health is just as critical. Many children carry invisible burdens that shape their behaviour, learning, and sense of self long before anyone notices.

In a noisy world, many children are speaking, but their voices are not being heard. Some whisper through their behaviour. Others cry out through silence. Some act out because they have no words for what they are carrying. Too often, adults look but do not truly see. They hear, but they do not listen.

This reality inspired me to create and perform “Listen”, a spoken word and movement piece that explores the emotional world of children who are often unseen, unheard, or misunderstood. The performance took place in Qatar during the Global South Arts and Health Week 2024, where I stood on stage not just as a dancer, but as an advocate.

Through measured movement, stillness, spoken word, and storytelling, “Listen” invited the audience to enter the child’s inner world. Each gesture reflected emotions that many children cannot name. There were moments of isolation, hesitation, vulnerability, and eventual release. The atmosphere was intense. As I moved, I could sense the audience leaning in. By the end, many were in tears, holding each other, acknowledging what had been stirred.

After the performance, people shared how deeply it affected them. One woman told me she remembered parts of her childhood she had buried. Another shared that the piece gave her a new perspective on children in her care. Some said nothing at all, but their hugs spoke volumes. For me, this confirmed something I have always believed: when we make space to listen, transformation begins.

“Listen” is more than performance. It is a call to parents, teachers, communities, and leaders to pay attention to the emotional lives of children. Mental health challenges among children are rising across the world, often unnoticed until they manifest in ways society can no longer ignore. But long before that point, there are signs. A child’s sudden withdrawal. Frequent outbursts. Struggles at school. A forced smile. These are not always “bad behaviour.” They are often calls for help.

As a movement artist and educator, I have worked with children who were labelled slow learners, stubborn, or disruptive. Many were simply carrying emotional burdens that no one had paused to acknowledge. When they were given creative outlets through dance, art, or storytelling, something shifted. Their confidence grew. Their voices emerged. They bloomed.

We need to build homes, classrooms, and communities where children feel seen and safe enough to express themselves. We need to train ourselves to listen beyond words. It starts with slowing down, observing, and being present. Creative spaces like dance, theatre, and art can become powerful tools for this kind of listening, allowing emotions to be expressed, processed, and healed.

As the world marks World Mental Health Day, my hope is that “Listen” becomes a reminder to pause and pay attention to the youngest among us. Their mental health matters. Their stories matter. When adults truly listen, we give children the gift of being seen and the foundation for healing.