In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Montefiore Health System in conjunction with the nonprofit, Hear Your Song, hosted a gathering and artworks presentation at Montefiore Medical Center’s Moses campus in Norwood on May 5 to showcase original songs and artworks written or created by various Bronx teens centered around their respective mental health journeys.

 

Hear Your Song, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, empowers children and teens with serious illnesses and complex health needs to make their voices heard through collaborative songwriting, according to its website.

 

According to Hear Your Song officials, the nonprofit provides power, choice, and a microphone to young people with a wide range of diagnoses, both physical and mental health conditions that, they say, often deprive young people of both power and choice in their day-to-day lives.

 

“At Hear Your Song, we believe that every young person deserves the chance to define themselves on their own terms,” an extract from the organization’s website reads.

 

According to representatives of Hear Your Song, since 2021, facilitators like Dan Rubins, co-founder and executive director of the nonprofit, have led songwriting workshops in partnership with Dr. Jenny Seham, Youth Empowerment Series psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center, allowing youth participants write and produce songs about anything they want, from celebrating friendship to struggling with depression.

 

A showcase of artworks by Bronx teens about their mental health journeys at Montefiore Hospital in Norwood, The Bronx on May 5, 2026. V1 Video by Síle Moloney

According to Montefiore officials who worked with the teens as part of the teen mental health program, those living with mental health issues found their voices and a way to express their feelings through songwriting or other works of art, with expert support.

 

A showcase of artworks by Bronx teens about their mental health journeys at Montefiore Hospital in Norwood, The Bronx on May 5, 2026. V2 Video by Síle Moloney

Some of Montefiore’s teen patients performed their original artworks in music and writing at the May 5th event, showcasing a powerful combination of music/art and psychotherapy. In other cases, videos of other participating teens’ artworks were screened in front of an audience of around 120 people.

 

A showcase of artworks by Bronx teens about their mental health journeys at Montefiore Hospital in Norwood, The Bronx on May 5, 2026. V4 Video by Síle Moloney

In bravely sharing their respective mental health journeys, Montefiore officials said the teens aimed to connect with the community and encourage others to see how songwriting and other artforms help them on their mental health journey.

 

A showcase of artworks by Bronx teens about their mental health journeys at Montefiore Hospital in Norwood, The Bronx on May 5, 2026. V5 Video by Síle Moloney

Before introducing his piece of theater entitled “The Jester,” Orlando, one program participant, said in part, “It’s funny because I mentioned to my mom that I was doing this performance and that I would have a little introductory talk with the audience, and she told me that I would have to have a little script, so I can just, you know, with what I want to say but I felt that it would be super unnatural, and I think it would be more natural for me to be, you know, stuttering, and for me to be speaking from the heart.”

 

A showcase of artworks by Bronx teens about their mental health journeys at Montefiore Hospital in Norwood, The Bronx on May 5, 2026. V6 Video by Síle Moloney

He continued, “I want to thank Mark who is going to be playing the Jester, and thank you to Dr. Lauren, who is going to be playing the Queen. This is not going to be like a regular performance. This is going to be more like a table read, where the actors are going to be reading off the script. I’m going to be reading off the script. I’m going to be like a proxy narrator in a way.”

 

A showcase of artworks by Bronx teens about their mental health journeys at Montefiore Hospital in Norwood, The Bronx on May 5, 2026. V7 Video by Síle Moloney

Orlando continued, “No, I don’t want to reveal the message. No, not at all. Y’all can interpret it in any way y’all want. Of course, that’s what any good form of art does, and of course, let me stop stuttering and I would like to present to you ‘The Jester.'”

 

A showcase of artworks by Bronx teens about their mental health journeys at Montefiore Hospital in Norwood, The Bronx on May 5, 2026. V8 Video by Síle Moloney

Later, Norwood News spoke to Dr. Jonathan Alpert, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, who said, “So, there are many ways to encourage good mental health, and to help people who have mental health conditions.”

 

 

A showcase of artworks by Bronx teens about their mental health journeys at Montefiore Hospital in Norwood, The Bronx on May 5, 2026. V9 Video by Síle Moloney

He said art is one of them. “[It’s one of] the avenues for helping people to express in their work, whether it’s in song or in visual arts, photography, feelings that they may not be able to put into words,” he said.

 

 

A showcase of artworks by Bronx teens about their mental health journeys at Montefiore Hospital in Norwood, The Bronx on May 5, 2026. V10 Video by Síle Moloney

Alpert continued, “This program is so important because it provides youth with an avenue for expressing themselves in ways that they might not otherwise be able to to do.”

 

Asked how many participants there were in the program, he said in part, “I think several dozen.’

 

A showcase of artworks by Bronx teens about their mental health journeys at Montefiore Hospital in Norwood, The Bronx on May 5, 2026. V11 Video by Síle Moloney

Alpert continued, “This program has been going about eight years, so many of us have had the opportunity to watch some of the kids grow over time and really blossom from being too shy to take the stage to now really commanding the stage, and I think it will be really something they’ll carry forward for the rest of their lives, a feeling of being appreciated, being valued, feeling a sense of growing confidence in their abilities, and I think that will be something enduring for them.”

 

During a showcase of artworks by Bronx teens about their mental health journeys at Montefiore Medical Center in Norwood on 5/5/2026, actor Lexi Lawson sends a video message to the participants of the program.  V12 Video by Síle Moloney

Lexi Lawson, actress and singer best known for her work in musicals like “Rent,” “In the Heights” and “Hamilton,” was unable to attend the event but sent a video message instead, saying she was upset not to be able to make it, but wanted to celebrate all of the participants and say how “incredibly proud” she was of all of them.

 

“Writing seven songs over the years is a massive accomplishment! You should be so proud of yourselves! I’m so proud of you!” she said with huge enthusiasm. Lawson continued, “I hope you continue sharing your music with the world, with your voice, with your songs, with all that inspires you! Keep reaching for your goals and I really do hope that you continue on this musical journey. I am so proud of you! Congratulations to you and I hope to see you soon. Bye!”

A showcase of artworks by Bronx teens about their mental health journeys at Montefiore Hospital in Norwood, The Bronx on May 5, 2026. V12 Video by Síle Moloney

On March 11 [a day after the Bronx Day in Albany event returned after a decade], a hundred or so young people were seen outside the State Capitol building in Albany rallying to increase the allocation in the State budget for mental health services (or maybe specifically for youth mental health services) from above 2 percent to 4 percent, amid prevailing budget negotiations.

 

Young people rally outside the State Capitol building in Albany to increase the allocation in the State budget for mental health services (youth mental health services) from above 2 percent to 4 percent, amid prevailing budget negotiations on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Video by Síle Moloney

In New York City, free and confidential mental health support is available 24/7. Call or text 988 to connect with trained counselors for crisis intervention, substance use support, and referrals to long-term care.