Social services for anxiety - did I mishear?!

[frozenpeas8]

I’m pregnant and recently had my booking-in appointment with my midwife. She asked a lot of questions about my physical and mental health as you’d expect. I mentioned that I do get anxiety sometimes but that it is manageable and doesn’t stop me living my life. Anyway, I’m sure she then said that social services are here to help with that if required after the birth.

Social services seems like a seriously drastic measure for someone who’s struggling a bit with anxiety. I’ve been going over the appointment in my head ever since and am wondering if I might have misunderstood or misheard? It was a long appointment and I wasn’t feeling my best that day.

Does anyone know if this is standard procedure? I’m terrified to bring up my anxiety again now as the last thing I want when my baby is born is social services getting involved! But like I say, I might have misheard?!

Could she possibly have said there are services available? I had CBT on the NHS after my OCD flared up after my first baby. Social services were never mentioned in my 2 subsequent births even though I also said at my booking appointment about my anxiety issues. Try not to worry, and ask for clarification at next appointment.

@frozenpeas8 I'm under the perinatal mental health team, I've recently had to go back onto tablets. My anxiety attacks cripple me at the moment. The midwife, consultant and anybody else I have contact with medically know how bad it is. Not once has social services been mentioned.

Also if your anxiety does get worse they can refer you to iapt who fast track pregnant ladies 😊

What you describe would definitely not meet the threshold for a referral to SS I am. There should definitely be a range of services (health visitor, perinatal mental health team, early help, etc etc) around to offer support, but SS are very unlikely to be one of them. I think the most likely explanation is that you did mishear, but get the midwife to clarify next time you see her.

Up to 1 in 5 new mothers experience perinatal anxiety - there is no way SS could cope with that volume of referrals (not that they would be the appropriate service anyway).

Thanks everyone - I thought I must have heard wrong as it seemed so over the top! I will bring up the anxiety again at my next appointment and see what she says.