Unfortunately there are millions of people who commit suicide. It is a confusing subject for people who are in the middle of this type of crisis , both for the family who has suicidal thoughts and for those relatives of people who have taken their own lives. If your partner wants to succumb, it is likely that you feel lonely, that you feel that your partner is no longer who he was.

You can feel in some way responsible for their emotional and physical well-being, generating in you high levels of stress and worry.

Control your partner’s risk factors

There are several warning signs of people having suicidal thoughts . If you think your partner may be, you will need to check the signs and do a daily follow-up. Some signs are: loss of interest in daily activities, hopelessness, helplessness, or having symptoms of depression and / or a history of depression. 

You may see changes in your personality , including making risky behavior decisions, an increase in substance use, or your partner may seem uninterested in making future plans with you or others. You can start giving away valuable or important possessions, or say phrases like , “You would be better off without me.”

Find mental health professionals

If you think that your partner has the aforementioned signs, it will be necessary for you to seek professional help as soon as possible. It is crucial during sensitive periods of time in life to be connected to the right resources. When your child goes to school, you want the best teachers. When you decide to buy a home, you want the best bank for your budget.  Finding a mental health professional for your partner should be as logical as the other topics. 

The stigma associated with seeking mental health help may discourage your partner from seeking a clinician, but you should get professional support as soon as possible. Treatment that includes psychotropic medications provided by a psychiatrist, as well as traditional psychotherapy from a psychologist or mental health professional should be a non-negotiable issue in your relationship at these delicate and decisive moments.

Social support

The most important thing to know is that you are not alone.  If your partner has expressed suicidal thoughts, you should get professional and social support. Often times, a partner will ask you to keep your feelings protected from others, but this is not an issue that you need to isolate from others. 

You need all the help you can get from your support network, both for your partner and for yourself. Ask your partner who they feel most comfortable sharing information with. Organize a meeting with your family , in-laws and friends. It is necessary to approach the emotions that your partner is experiencing from respect and trust. You need support in these difficult times even if he or she denies it in the first place.

Emotional well-being

It is important not only to monitor your partner’s risk factors, but also to have open conversations with him or her several times a day to check on emotional well-being.  When leading these types of conversations , keep a loving tone, ask direct questions about how she is feeling or if she has a specific plan for improvement.  Avoid making judgments or your own emotions in this specific conversation. The less judged your partner feels, the more apt they are to open up and share details that you probably didn’t know. 

It is also important that you find your own help through mental health professionals and your social support network to process the impact of your partner’s suicidal ideation and what it provokes on your own emotions . It is essential to address the issue as soon as possible to avoid a fatal outcome.

Note: These tips are also useful if you have any loved one who has suicidal thoughts around you.