Jacquie Lambie has spoken out about her mental health struggles, revealing she was so determined to take her own life that she wrote goodbye letters to her children before waking up in a psychiatric ward.
The Tasmanian independent senator spoke about her personal struggles in a book called Profiles In Hope by former Liberal MP John Brogden, which also details the mental health issues of 14 other high-profile Australians, including James Packer.
Senator Lambie’s troubles began in 2000, when she was medically discharged from the Australian Defence Force after injuring her spine during a field exercise.
She spent about seven years embroiled in a court battle against the Department of Veterans Affairs, which attempted to argue that she was not injured, despite her crippling pain.
Ms Lambie eventually won the case, but lost almost everything in the process: she was living on welfare, a single mother of two and addicted to painkillers.
In the book, she told Brogden: “The reason I had depression was the pain. I just couldn’t stand it.”
‘By mid-August 2009 I could no longer bear the pain. I was fed up. I left some letters for the children.’
Senator Jacqui Lambie (pictured) has spoken openly about her mental health issues in a new book
Jacqui Lambie suffered a serious spinal injury during a training exercise when she was in the army (pictured)
Ms Lambie said the letters were written three weeks in advance because she knew she was going to try to take her life but had not worked out how.
After his attempt, he woke up in the hospital to find that he had been in an induced coma for 48 hours.
“My two sons and my father were standing there. I’ll never forget their faces. It was horrifying. They were asking, ‘Why?'” she recalled.
She said her life changed completely once she was admitted to a psychiatric ward and received the pain treatment she needed.
“Once I got the pain under control, the depression just went away,” she said.
Ms Lambie previously said she entered politics because she did not want anyone else to have to struggle like she did.
On Monday morning, he spoke about a series of recommendations following a three-year Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, to which he contributed in 2022.
“Even though we’ve all come out and voiced our grievances, there are many out there… who are still in service,” he said.
Jacqui Lambie joined politics because she didn’t want anyone else to experience her ordeal.
Senator Lambie is pictured with her son Dylan in 2016. She previously thanked him for looking after her when her mental health deteriorated.
“But the hard work starts today, that’s the truth.
“We need someone to make sure that these recommendations are passed as quickly as possible and that those recommendations, the legislation, are correct and fit for purpose.”
Ms Lambie gave evidence to the Royal Commission in 2022 and broke down as she relived her experience.
She said: ‘I want to thank my two children who went through so much and saw their mother deteriorate so much over a period of 10 years and the end of that period.’
The senator said during the investigation that her youngest son, Dylan, struggled with methamphetamine addiction.
Addressing him directly in front of the cameras, she said: ‘To my youngest son, I know you have paid a very, very high price for what you had to do to take care of me during that period of time, and I know you are still paying the price for that.
“Thank you very much. I’ll speak on your behalf and tell them what you’ve been through and the impact it’s had on your life. So, thank you very much.”
The findings of the Royal Commission will be presented to Parliament on Monday.
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