Adjournment speeches in the ACT Legislative Assembly are often tedious affairs.
It's the last order of business for the day in the territory's parliament and they are typically used by politicians to shout out members of the community or to give thanks for a recent event.
But in the final week of the 10th Legislative Assembly, Tara Cheyne revealed something deeply personal.
"Too much of this term for me was characterised by personal darkness," she said.
"It is very difficult to function when the first thought that pervades your consciousness each day on waking is 'I want to die'.
"But that is the deep depression that I was in for a considerable amount of time."
It was a moment that could have quietly slipped by unnoticed as Ms Cheyne quickly followed it up by talking about all the good things from the Assembly term.
But it was all the joy of her work and her personal life which made her confront a demon which she said had been lingering with her since high school.
"I know that I've had depressive tendencies or episodes since high school and I've had some really, really dark periods but they come and go in waves," Ms Cheyne said.
Ms Cheyne said these dark thoughts especially presented themselves at the start of the parliamentary term. She had been promoted from the backbench and had several ministries including arts, business and multicultural affairs.
"I did find that being in a portfolio that was very event-heavy and being out there, putting myself out there, public speaking, giving speeches, being engaging and talking with people all the time, when you are feeling not 100 per cent and then to have to put on that face every day, sometimes I think that can almost exacerbate that feeling," she said.
"It was a very persistent, confronting feeling to start your day with every day so that was tough. It wasn't related to work or the pressures of the job, sometimes I guess there are chemical imbalances or things that might be triggering that start to pile up."
For many years Ms Cheyne said she "toughed it out" but last year there was a tipping point that made her seek a diagnosis.
She said everything was going well in her life but those dark thoughts were still all-consuming.
"My tipping point was September last year. Everything was going pretty right for me. Happy life, happy home, portfolios, kicking goals," Ms Cheyne said.
"I had just had a lovely time in the US and I came back and was struggling to find joy in anything and that was a really confronting feeling, realisation to go 'life's great and I'm not'. That was hard for me to deal with."
She made an appointment with a general practitioner and was diagnosed with depression. She has been on a low dose of anti-depressants since.
Ms Cheyne has also received an ADHD diagnosis and she said knowing these two things has made campaigning a little bit different this time.
In previous campaigns, she used to dwell on negative conversations for days and days but she said she now has the tools to better manage this.
She also receives help from a very special fur friend. Her greyhound, Bailey.
"She's just this real joy and she brings a lot of joy to others. When you're having tough days she's there with her unconditional love. She's always in your face licking but when you're caring for something that does give you that unconditional love as well, even when days are hard," Ms Cheyne said.
"She's been central to the positive aspects of my mental health as a politician."
Ms Cheyne has urged others experiencing similar thoughts to reach out to a trusted health professional.
"It is very simple to say, just go and speak to somebody but I think it is worth doing. It's worth taking seriously," she said.
- Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Men's Referral Service 1300 776 491; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732.
