One more thing--I missed the suicide attempt when I read your post. I have worked in the domestic violence field for a long, long time, and suicide threats, gestures, and attempts make the situation far more dangerous. DV experts sometimes use a "lethality scale" to rate how dangerous a DV situation is. Suicide threats or attempts increase the dangerousness--homicide/suicides are, sadly, not that uncommon. It's a short step for some people from being willing to take themselves out to taking the family with them.