Partner feels suicidal. Any success stories?

[merrykate]

My partner has openly talked about killing himself. He has researched way of doing it and says the only reason he won't is because he's scared.

He had a traumatic childhood and has struggled with depression all his life. He's never really committed to getting help; he'll be prescribed ADs then won't take them properly, believing that he can solve his own problems.

He has all the signs of Borderline Personality Disorder: experiencing dramatic highs and lows that can shift rapidly for no apparent reason, sensation seeking behaviour, fear of abandonment, etc. The list goes on.

He finally agreed to see his GP yesterday who has referred him to the mental health team for a diagnosis. The only meds prescribed were beta blockers and sleeping pills. We have the suicide first response team (whatever that is) visiting today.

I guess I'm looking for reassurance that people (particularly men) can get better with support. I'm so frightened of losing the love of my life.

[MrMagnoliasBoot]

Suicide first response team sounds like crisis team to me, or perhaps your areas version of it? This is a good first step. You should be honest with them yourself. Say stuff like I know you have loads of patients but there is only my DH I care about. What is your plan? What should we do? If you can push them if you are up to it. If it is a personality disorder look at the NICE guidelines and insist they follow them.

[MrMagnoliasBoot]

Suicide first response team sounds like crisis team to me, or perhaps your areas version of it? This is a good first step. You should be honest with them yourself. Say stuff like I know you have loads of patients but there is only my DH I care about. What is your plan? What should we do? If you can push them if you are up to it. If it is a personality disorder look at the NICE guidelines and insist they follow them.

[merrykate]

Thank you for replying. Yes it's the crisis team. I'll look into the NICE guidelines. Thanks again.

[fatowl]

My dh was suicidal in 2014.
He doesn't have a traumatic background but it was very repressed - everything was "lovely" but it really wasn't, he was badly bullied at school which was never dealt with by his parents etc

He's always had the tendency to be depressed and self medicated with alcohol, like your dh, he won't take meds.

He's quite a lot better now, and I'm no longer worried about suicide day to day, but I would say he is still depressed. But he does have good days. He is in a better place generally.

[NolongerAnxiousCarer]

15 years ago I was suicidal, I got through it with ADs and councelling and have never got that low again since. DH has made multiple attempts, but once we finally got a mental health team involved and the right medication and support things improved hugely. DH has been diagnosed with a serious mental illness that will likely be lifeling, so I can't say he will never try again, but right now he is well and things are good. There is definately hope for a good recovery with the right support and it sounds like thats what he is getting.

[merrykate]

Thanks for all the replies. It's good to know there is hope and life can improve. X