Los Angeles, June 7: Kate Spade's husband Andy Spade said the deceased fashion designer was struggling with "depression and anxiety for many years" and even though they were living separately for 10 months, the couple "never discussed divorce". The designer committed suicide by hanging herself in her Park Avenue apartment on June 5.

According to recent reports, her 24-year-old marriage with Andy Spade was on the rocks. He said the designer's death was "a complete shock" to him. "Kate was the most beautiful woman in the world. She was the kindest person I've ever known and my best friend for 35 years. My daughter and I are devastated by her loss, and can't even begin to fathom life without her. We are deeply heartbroken and miss her already," he said in a statement to E! News.

The husband said Kate, aged 55, was undergoing medical therapy and she "sounded happy" the night before she took her own life.

"Kate suffered from depression and anxiety for many years. She was actively seeking help and working closely with her doctors to treat her disease, one that takes far too many lives. We were in touch with her the night before and she sounded happy. "There was no indication and no warning that she would do this. It was a complete shock. And it clearly wasn't her. There were personal demons she was battling," he said.

The designer's estranged sister Reta Brosnahan Saffo earlier alleged Kate was suffering from "mental illness for a number of years", a claim which the family then denied. Refuting the reports of their divorce, Andy said as "best friends" they constantly discussed their problems and were trying to sort things out like every other couple who loved each other.

"For the past 10 months we had been living separately, but within a few blocks of each other. Bea (their 13-year-old daughter Frances Beatrice) was living with both of us and we saw each other or spoke every day. We ate many meals together as a family and continued to vacation together as a family. Our daughter was our priority.

"We were not legally separated, and never even discussed divorce. We were best friends trying to work through our problems in the best way we knew how. We were together for 35 years. We loved each other very much and simply needed a break," he said. Andy reiterated that his wife was seeking medical help for "depression and anxiety over the last five years, seeing a doctor on a regular basis and taking medication for both depression and anxiety".

There was no substance or alcohol abuse and there were no business problems, he added. As per TMZ, Kate left behind a note for their daughter, which alludes to blaming Andy for her suicide. "Bea - I have always loved you. This is not your fault. Ask Daddy!" it reads, according to the website. Andy said he was "appalled" to learn that the private note was shared with the press, he, however, is yet to see it. "I have yet to see any note left behind and am appalled that a private message to my daughter has been so heartlessly shared with the media," he said. The designer's husband said he wants to protect and comfort his daughter in these tough times. "My main concern is Bea and protecting her privacy as she deals with the unimaginable grief of losing her mother," he said.