When Kirsty Solman's twelve-year-old son Kyle told his parents he did not want to live, she did what any mother would do. She asked for help. What followed was a two-year battle with overstretched mental health services that almost broke her family — and ultimately inspired her to make sure no other parent has to fight alone.
Kyle, who has autism and ADHD, made several attempts on his own life. His parents tried repeatedly to access child and adolescent mental health services, only to find waiting lists stretching beyond two years for an initial appointment. The system, Solman says, was not built to catch children in crisis.
"People don't realise how many children we are losing to suicide," she told the Daily Record.
A Safe Space
From that frustration, Stand With Kyle Now was born. The Glasgow-based charity, founded by Kirsty and her husband Scott, exists to help families navigate the labyrinth of child and adolescent mental health services — and to push for systemic change.
The charity runs peer support groups where parents in similar situations can share experiences and find solidarity. "A lot of parents who contact us have been broken down so much by the system that they have just given up," Solman said. "It is really isolating sometimes. You can be stuck in your own house because that can be the only way to keep your child safe. Here is a safe space where they can support each other."
Pushing for Change
Stand With Kyle Now is behind a petition being examined by Holyrood that calls for the introduction of separate mental health A&E units — dedicated crisis facilities for children and young people experiencing psychiatric emergencies, rather than sending them to general emergency departments where staff may have limited mental health training and the environment itself can be distressing.
The charity's practical programmes are already making a difference in schools. Project Worry distributes bundles including a "worry monster" — a soft toy with a zip mouth where primary school children can post written worries — designed to catch mental health issues early, before they escalate. Project Encourage invites members of the public to write letters of encouragement to people struggling with their mental health.
"It is all about catching issues early enough," Solman said. "Knowing someone is thinking about them can make a huge difference."
Kyle's Own Voice
Kyle himself has become an advocate. Now taking medication to help manage his anxiety, he has been making his own videos telling other children why they should not be afraid of seeking help. His mother describes him as having good days and bad days, but says that for the most part things are going well.
The Solman family's story is one of thousands across Scotland. Child and adolescent mental health waiting times remain among the most persistent failures in Scottish healthcare, with thousands of young people waiting months or years for support that clinicians agree should come quickly. Stand With Kyle Now cannot fix the system alone — but it can make sure that families caught in the gap have somewhere to turn.
Letters of encouragement can be sent to SKWN, PO Box 16276, Glasgow, G15 9AJ.
