Spouse with depression

Hi I would like some advice from others who have experienced what we are right now. My husband is going thru some life changes and we have had some conflict with his family lately, that always disturbs him. Yesterday he told me he has felt really depressed lately and that I needed to hide our gun because he had been having suicidal thoughts. This was very shocking, he has been hiding his distress well. I made him promise me he would not hurt himself and scheduled an appt. with his doc for this morning. I called the docs office to confirm he was there since I couldn't go with him (we have 2 small children who are both ill, one with pneumonia). I also immediately hid the gun last night. I am under a lot of stress right now with my children and now this and I want to make sure I'm handling this in the best way to ensure his safety and make sure he gets better. Please give me any suggestions.

Thanks, mammasgirls

He went to the primary care doc yesterday and he gave him 4 weeks of samples of Lexapro. He can't get in to see a therapist for 3-4 weeks so now he's apprehensive about taking the Lexapro. He's afraid it will have bad side effects or make him worse. I think he should take it and if he's getting low I told him we will call the doc and ask for 1 more week of meds till he gets in to the therapist. I can't make him take it and I understand his worries but I really think he should. What does anyone else think?