Jenny Ware at a coffee shop in her Gymea Bay neighbourhood. Picture by Murray Trembath
Former Liberal MP Jenny Ware has revealed she experienced "fairly significant mental health issues" and entered a private hospital for treatment after losing the federal seat of Hughes.
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A year on from the Coalition's disastrous election loss, the Gymea Bay resident has spoken of her illness, from which she has recovered, while launching a new business venture.
GALS, an acronym for Government and Legal Solutions, will represent a range of clients, such as small business people and local residents, who are having difficulties with various levels of government.
The former MP will lean on the knowledge, skills and experience from her previous roles as a lawyer and MP.
Ms Ware said losing Hughes had comes as shock because Liberal Party officials had assured her their polling showed it was safe.
Jenny Ware has launched a new business venture. Picture by Murray Trembath
"I had to go through the trauma that a lot of people do, who lose their job unexpectedly overnight," she said.
"I did have a period of fairly significant mental health issues, which included some time in Waratah Private Hospital.
"I received great support from my family, particularly my two sons who were only 19. I also have a core group of friends, who gave me a lot of support.
"I thought I knew a bit about mental health because I dealt with it quite a bit in Canberra, but until you are at the coalface, until you are suffering depression yourself to the extent that you can't get out of bed, [having] suicidal thoughts, things like that, that's when it really comes home."
Ms Ware said she was fortunate to have had private health insurance and could afford to be in a private hospital.
"I know from talking to psychiatrists and psychologists that people whose only ability to access mental health help is through the public system that it is failing," she said.
"The people working in the system are doing everything they can, but they are simply overwhelmed, overstretched.
"We simply don't have enough mental health beds for the number of patients that need that help.
"The patients who do get in are often discharged after a couple of days, and are likely to be back in ED within a short time."
Ms Ware intends to advocate for improvements in mental health services and changes in other areas of government policy, including domestic and family violence, in addition to her paid work.
She also has another role - helping with education policy development in the office of Cronulla MP Mark Speakman, the shadow education minister.
Ms Ware said she had an open mind about running again for parliament.
Liberal Party rules prevent her commenting on the fact she nominated for preselection for the State seat of Miranda for the 2027 election, but later withdrew, leaving sitting MP Eleni Petinos to be endorsed.

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