I'm not sure who helped me to find this site. My roommate is 52 and I am 66. Twenty years ago we each were diagnosed with Parkinson's. My problem is my roommate, Kit, is sometimes very hard for me to handle. Yesterday he was very depressed and talked about nothing else but committing suicide. He has many doctors but he doesn't seem to be getting the help he needs.
I am very frustrated and don't know what to do when he is like this. I have schizophrenia, Parkinson's, lung disease, adult onset scoliosis, depression and osteoporosis. I was in a nursing home for 5 years before in SE Texas before coming to live with Kit in his home in Grand Junction this past October.
For the most part, he is very kind and thoughtful. But when he is like this (suicidal), I don't know what to do to help him and I fight suicidal thoughts myself most every day. I have tried several times to kill myself over the past 20 plus years.
I was married and have 6 children. I don't know what I did, but after retiring at 48, my wife sent me back to my parents in Oklahoma. I have not been able to communicate with any of my children since that time (2002).
Any ideas on what I can (or should do) at this point?
If his doctors are of no help possibly a call to emergency services and tell them that the person is talking of harming themselves. It is possible that hospitalization is what he needs to get the right help.
I have to ask..is he a Veteran? If so contact the VA. They are very much aware of Veterans in Crisis and are doing much more now to help and prevent suicides.
And I also have to ask..are you a Veteran? If so you can get help for yourself if you need it. There are all sorts of services and it is possible that many health problems could be traced to your service and if so that may classify it as a "service connected disability" and the service you get are greatly increased.
Getting back to your roommate, you say he is getting hard to handle. If at anytime you feel you are in danger you have to take care of yourself first. Remove yourself from the situation and call 911. Tell the dispatcher what is going on and if you are in danger mention that, also if there are any weapons that he might have access to tell them that. (If there are any weapons get gun locks! or remove them from the house)
If this is ongoing and you truly can not handle it and you are in danger it might be best to look for a safer place to live until Kit is more in control.