Suicide attempt and now social services want to be involved

[Queenbeexo]

Really sorry as I didn’t know where to post this, but people seem to get more answers when they post in parenting forum.
Basically I tried to take my own life on Friday and was taking to hospital. I have 2 young DC. During my assessment at hospital I was very distressed and I told them I had hit younger DC in explosive anger (please don’t judge me I love my children and I am completely guilt ridden by this, as I shocked myself after it happened.) they sent me a letter today and stated that my DC are at moderate risk of abuse / neglect and have been referred to children’s services. I am petrified my DC will be snatched from me, I am currently under the care of the MHT and getting support. I also have a very supportive DH who has been my rock through the weekend and during the whole thing. Can please someone shed some light on what will happen at the assessment as I am petrified and already incredibly guilt ridden by my actions and regret what happened on Friday.

You need to cooperate with children’s services and I would make sure your DH is well placed to show he can provide sufficient support for both you and your kids during your illness and recovery. It sounds like you love your kids and want the best for them and SS will see this. The question is whether they are safe with you in your worst moment if this illness. You need to show that they are, and not you telling them they will be fine because you love them and gave learned your lesson but show them that by making sure you’ve put in place treatment for yourself, support and sufficient presence from their other parent and if possible, regular help from your family/childcare setting etc. Things that show you are taking steps to protect their world and get well yourself. Good luck OP and get well soon.

I don’t know what will happen at the assessment but I do think it’s very important that you work with them.
Your MH is not good which puts your children in a vulnerable position I’m afraid and then with the added situation of you lashing out and hitting DC it’s really no wonder a referral has been made.
The best thing you can do is to be open and honest with them, social services are there to help and don’t come in guns blazing removing children from their parents unless it is absolutely necessary.
It’s great that you are getting support and social services will be keen to hear about that.

I'm so sorry you're going through this, it sounds very difficult for all of you. I can't tell you exactly what will happen at the assessment but I can tell you this. The main reason children are taken into care is because parents show that they are incapable of putting the children first. SS will want to work with you, they are NOT child snatchers, their priority is to keep children safe and well and they would prefer to do so in their own family where that's possible.
What you need to do now is sit down with your dh and discuss how you can show that the children's safety and well being comes first. That will mean drawing on other support networks, it may mean that dh agrees to take the children elsewhere for a while if your mh worsens, it may mean you seek inpatient care or that you arrange your days so that you're not caring for the children alone. SS will have their own ideas about what's best so nothing's set in stone at this point however it will reflect well on you as a family if you show that you are capable of planning ahead so that the children can be protected.
Apart from that, make sure that the basics are covered clean house (needn't be a show home just clean and safe) healthy food in the house, age appropriate toys for the dc. They will probably want to speak to the dc alone, let them know that it's fine to tell the truth. Lying or getting defensive with SS will generally backfire.
Good luck with this op, try not to let guilt drag you further down. You've had a crisis but you can fix it and put it behind you.