I'm sorry for your loss. This post brings back very sad memories for me as it happened to my best friend. He did not live near me and we didn't see each other as often anymore so I didn't know about the jaundice. Many people told him to get help. I guess he gave up, and he passed away. I have never made sense of it and it haunts me. I know he too was depressed and unhappy with life. I view it all as a suicide. He was working on the road, felt bad, went home and died within 5 days. And he had distanced himself from me for 3 months prior, while I was fighting cancer. Now I know why.
I also don't think it would hurt to talk to you ex. You won't have regrets in the end if the worst thing happens. But he needs to want to live first and foremost. Hopefully his children will give him that spark to want to live.
Oddsunflower, I'm so sorry for your loss. It brought me to tears.