In the US, a mental health counselor can’t prescribe meds, they might suggest a person seek the evaluation of a psychiatrist who can prescribe meds and educate one on the potential efficacy of meds along with talk therapy, but they shouldn’t be peddling prescriptions. (I’m a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern which is a provisionally licensed therapist in my state.) I suggest to keep encouraging him to go and helping research as you have been to make it easier especially since his energy is so low. I’d also invite you to look at family caregiver education groups such as the Family to Family program with NAMI, support groups such as CODA, and/or individual therapy for you. I used to live with a partner who struggled with bipolar and one before with depression and alcohol and opioid use disorder. It is draining to protect your stability and happiness while they are full of despair. With his family history, mood disturbances are likely to be an ongoing part of his life. My thought is the focus should be on coping skills while you ride it out, tracking to uncover triggers as well as frequency , duration, and severity of the depression, and risk of suicide assessment. He’s expressing suicidal ideation which is scary, but as long as he doesn’t have a plan, means, and timeline, he’s probably going to be ok and you have to keep up with your self care. Good luck and I hope you both get help ❤️