(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

When he was a child, Liam Kelly smiled when expected, stayed silent when words felt heavy, and filled notebooks with thoughts he couldn't voice. Decades later, those same notebooks became the foundation for his children's book, 'William: The Story Written in My Head'.

His book confronts an issue affecting nearly one in three UAE adolescent-anxiety disorders.

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Research shows 28 per cent of UAE adolescents suffer from anxiety-related disorders, with rates significantly higher among girls at 33.6 per cent compared to boys at 17.2 per cent. Additional studies found 23.3 per cent of school students display anxiety symptoms, with 17.1 per cent showing signs of depression.

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"I was the quiet one, always thinking," Kelly, the Irish author based in Abu Dhabi, told Khaleej Times. "When I felt anxious, I didn't have the words to explain it. So I smiled and made it look like everything was fine."

Growing up in County Antrim, Kelly learned early to hide his emotions. Those silent years became the blueprint for his character William, a thoughtful boy navigating school life while his mind feels constantly full.

Kelly follows his protagonist through school experiences where imagination and worry intertwine. "William's story is about learning to understand your feelings rather than fight them," Kelly explains. Each character draws from his lived experiences with children and teachers. "Every character carries a truth I've lived or witnessed," Kelly told Khaleej Times.

The book was recently released to mark World Children's Day, with proceeds supporting children's mental health awareness projects. "Children's mental health is something we nurture every day through stories and understanding," Kelly said. "It's something we must nurture in every classroom, every home, and every story we tell."

Writing William proved healing for Kelly. He said: "When I wrote the first line, I could feel the child version of me sitting beside me. He had been waiting a long time to be heard."

"Sometimes the stories we write are the ones we were never brave enough to tell," he reflects. "But once you tell them, it becomes something you can finally talk about."

Understanding difficult feelings

The UAE faces a pediatric mental health challenge that extends beyond Kelly's personal experience. Studies indicate 17-22 per cent of UAE youth suffer from depressive symptoms. Despite several government initiatives, conversations about children's emotional well-being remain difficult for many families.

Across the UAE, schools and parents have become increasingly vocal about youth mental health. Since the pandemic, educators report higher rates of anxiety-linked school avoidance, while psychologists note more families seeking early intervention tools. Children's books addressing emotional wellbeing have grown in demand, particularly titles helping younger readers name and understand difficult feelings.

Kelly believes books can facilitate those conversations. "When a child reads a story that reflects something they feel, it's often the first step toward articulating what they're experiencing," he said.

His book aims to give young readers something he never had growing up: a safe place where feelings are allowed to exist, and where quiet children learn that their voices matter.

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