Exclusive: Former South Australian opposition leader David Speirs has shared his experiences following his exit from state politics amidst allegations related to drug charges.
Speirs revealed that the intense pressures he endured at the time led to suicidal thoughts; however, these personal challenges have fueled a transformation in his behavior and a commitment to assist others dealing with similar issues.
“It was a very dark time,” Speirs said.
“I’m not sugar coating it, I made mistakes, but the consequences were very, very dramatic.”
Speirs is committed to walking the Kokoda track in Papua New Guinea in support of men’s mental health.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for me to focus on something I deeply care about and have personal experience with, which is mental health challenges,” he stated.
Nonetheless, his efforts in fundraising and his re-engagement on social media have prompted speculation regarding a possible return to public life, particularly as an independent candidate for his previous seat, Black.
“I do miss being in public service, and I won’t completely rule out a future return to public life, but I’m not ready to make that decision right now,” he commented.
“I don’t feel I’ve got the resilience, I don’t feel I’ve healed enough.”
For now he said he would remain committed to getting through the challenge of the next few weeks and being an active part of his community.
“Life is OK but I’m still rebuilding,” he said.
“I’m not going to hide away and be a hermit, that would be terrible for me.
“I’m ready to tell my story, to talk about it, to learn from it and maybe help others learn from it as well.”
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