Worried about social services due to past MH issues

[Jj93x]

I just had a call from my midwife to book my first appointment, she explained on the phone she would take bloods etc, discuss my health and also mentioned discussing mental health and ‘social’.

Around 5-7 years ago I was seen by a psychiatrist for depression, anxiety, a mild eating disorder and psychosis. I eventually just stopped seeing them as I was getting better and couldn’t fit in the appointments round my full time job. I haven’t seen anyone since bar the GP which was for my anxiety after the death of my grandad 3 years ago.

I do still have anxiety but it is manageable and the other issues are totally gone, I am in the best place I’ve ever been in terms of my mental health!

I’m hoping that isn’t what she meant when she said discussing ‘social’ as she hasn’t met me yet, maybe I am just flapping!

I know if they did refer me they would just want to make sure everything is okay but I’m just worried my past mental health will be used against me.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

If your mh is managed then no concerns
If you experience issues later they can refer to specialist pre and post natal support.
So don't worry.

I have a relatively significant mental health history (on/off self harm from 13 - mid-twenties, suicide attempts at 15 and 20, a few instances of private counselling in the last few years for low level anxiety). I'm 30 and generally very good now at managing my mental health, mostly because I'm active about staying on top of it and noting anxiety triggers. Like you I consider my mental health the best its ever been (one of the many reasons why we decided that we are now in a good place to have a child).

I was 100% honest about all of this with the midwife when I had my booking in appointment. She was lovely about it all and just flagged me to the mental health midwives so I'm 'on their radar'. What this means is that they are aware that I am in the system as someone with former MH issues, but as I don't have any active MH concerns at the moment they don't need to see me. However, if I do have a MH decline during the pregnancy, I'll be in their systems so I can be seen at short notice. I'm assuming the professionals involved in working with me after the birth will have the same information (HV etc) so they can keep an eye out for my mental health as well.

As I say, because I'm proactive about looking after my mental health these days I'm delighted that they've made sure I've got access to exactly the people I need to if my MH takes a battering (touch wood that won't be the case of course but you never know).

I'm not a midwife or HV but given my history and the way they're approaching things I'd feel very reassured that there aren't any concerns about social services. In my booking in, 'social' meant things like (a) am I in secure housing and do I feel safe (b) am I experiencing any DV or abuse (c) do I have a supportive partner in my life/support from friends and family (d) do I have additional needs around income, food, addiction etc.

Please don't worry

I have a history of complex mental health problems.

I was offered lots of extra support, mostly in the form of extra appointments and easy 24/7 access to advice and support. This continued until my baby's 1st birthday.

It was all optional but I'm glad I made the most of it. I almost refused because I was scared they'd be looking out for signs of me not coping and then referring me to social services, but it was nothing like that.

To echo everyone else, I had postpartum psychosis and pnd with dc1, tried to leave in NICU and didn't believe he was mine for the first six months. I was also diagnosed with pstd, attachment issues of my own and gad in the aftermath of his arrival.

At no point have I ever been referred to social services due to my mental health. With dc2 I wasn't even referred to peri-natal mental health because I was still seeing adult mental health/having psychotherapy.

'Social' in this context will just have meant things like, do you have a supportive partner, a place to live that will work ok for your needs, friends/helpful people around you to assist with baby if needed - factors in your life, really. Of course, in some circumstances midwives would refer to social services where necessary, but the word 'social' in the context she used it would have been about social factors in your life.

Thank you everyone you have made me feel much better! This is my first and I do have a tendency to flap about everything as I just want it to all be perfect ❤️

Your past MH is of no interest to them if it doesn't affect you now and even if it did SS don't just swoop in and take your baby because of a bit of anxiety or depression there's plenty of parents with both those who parent perfectly fine so try not to worry