Mother pleads for help as disabled son carries knife due to lack of support in Iceland

A mother of a disabled boy, who has been carrying a knife due to his distress, has been pleading for help from the authorities for years but feels utterly helpless. She has reached out to child protective services herself but reports receiving no assistance.

“My son carries knives because he is in distress,” the mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, said. She added that her son struggles to articulate his feelings due to his diagnoses, which complicates their situation. “There are various issues that have arisen from his diagnoses for which it seems impossible to find any solutions or assistance. That’s where I feel the problem lies; I have seen that this is just 1%, and these boys may be at risk of serious problems.”

Recent research from an Icelandic youth study revealed that 1% of both primary and secondary school students bring knives to school to harm or defend themselves. The mother points out that the systemic lack of resources makes it incredibly challenging for parents to address their children’s needs properly.

Her son, nearing eighteen, has multiple diagnoses, including a mental disorder. “He is entitled to full services and support, but every time I approach the system, I find locked doors,” she shared. “There simply aren’t enough staff, and no one knows how to help. The only response I receive is that unfortunately, nothing can be done, and sadly, these boys end up in prison.”

Despite being on endless waiting lists for psychiatric help, the mother believes the problem is escalating. “I know there are more parents in our community facing similar situations; we remain on interminable waiting lists.”

She has consistently reached out to child protection services, asking for help and even reporting herself. Desiring her son to receive appropriate care, she has found no services available. “After years of striving for assistance, nothing changes,” she lamented, illustrating a distressing reality faced by many parents in Iceland.