Steve Marshall, Attorney General of Alabama, shares information about his wife's suicide and mental illness

Alabama Attorney General Steve Montgomery opened a press conference Wednesday on his wife's suicide last weekend after a long fight against mental illness.

Marshall felt compelled to address the tragedy The death of his wife and sharing her story in the hope that she could help other families and Individuals who have suffered from mental illness and suicide know that they are not alone.

He said that his wife was suffering from depressive disorders and anxiety. The limelight that accompanied his public service life to be authoritarian and feared his long-standing struggles would be exposed.

"For me, I wonder if if I was not Attorney General, would she still alive?"

– Steve Marshall, Attorney General of Alabama

Since childhood, Bridgette Gentry Marshall, 45, had suffered from chronic migraines that resulted in prescription opioid addiction and unsuccessful shutdowns at Reh. ab, WAFF-TV reported. She also had diseases that caused physical pain, including a digestive disorder that required a feeding tube.

A relative in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where Bridgette Marshall was staying, called the police at 7:46 am Sunday after the Attorney General's wife. was found dead on a couch, with a self-inflicted bullet wound, reported AL.com.

"For me, I wonder whether or not if I was not Attorney General, would she still be alive?" Marshall said. "If I did not choose public service, would she still be here today and I will be haunted by this for the rest of my life."

Marshall, 53, was appointed attorney general of the state in February 2017 after former high state attorney, Luther Strange, was elected to the US Senate, reported Montgomery Advertiser. Marshall was campaigning for a full term in the position.

Marshall stated that his wife's personal struggle caused him to take a short time in Murfreesboro. When Bridgette came home for the June 5th primary election and her birthday, Marshall said that they saw a "happiness" in her that had been lost for a while.

"And then for some reason something has changed and we do not know," he said.

In his last phone call, Marshall called back his wife saying, "I'm tired to be tired and just want to leave. "

" I told her how she was loved.As a guy who is professionally supposed to convince people with words to do something, I could not To reach, "said Marshall, sobbing.

"You are the man for work in Alabama.I love you more than you'll ever know and I could not be more proud of the way you've always done it with. thanks. "

– Bridgette Marshall's note to her husband

Marshall then asks for privacy for his 20- He concludes by reading a note of love that his wife had written for him two weeks before his death, where she encouraged her prosecution of the Attorney General's office. Steve: "I knew you were going to do that," the ticket said. "It was a great birthday present that I knew came in. You are the man for work in Alabama, I love you more than you'll ever know and I could not to be more proud of the way you have managed everything as you always do gracefully.I love you.Love, Bridgette. "

" It's the woman I'm going to celebrate. Let us celebrate this life and stop having to discuss his death, "Marshall said.

Associated Press contributed to this report.