Abby Gilmore shoots straight from the lip with inspiring words on mental health

FORMER footy WAG turned mental health advocate Abby Gilmore has spoken of her happiness and sense of purpose a year on from her split with Western Bulldogs favourite Jake Stringer.

Abby Gilmore, pictured with her kids, Arlo (14 months) and Milla (3) is the ambassador for the Liptember charity. Picture: Jay Town

FORMER Wag now mental health advocate Abby Gilmore has spoken of her happiness and sense of purpose a year on from her split with Western Bulldogs favourite Jake Stringer.

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And she has told of the challenges and rewards of learning to co-parent her two young daughters with her ex-partner as she takes on her first ambassadorial role with Liptember.

Gilmore, 24, and Stringer separated in August last year although kept their split a secret for six months, until February, while the Bulldogs marched to grand final glory.

Having battled post-natal depression and the shock of single motherhood, Gilmore is determined to be a strong and positive role model for her daughters, Milla, 3, and Arlo, 13 months, and others.

“They are why I started my new life because I was not happy settling with the old,” Gilmore said.

“No matter how old you are, or how settled you might be, or how great life might seem to people, it is ok, you can start again and rebuild.

“At the end of the day life is too short and being unhappy was not an option for me.

“I had morphed into my partner really and I did everything I could to create a really good life for him, which I don’t regret, that is my personality and I love hard, and now it is about learning to love me.

“I am still finding out who I am and I like what I see. I am really enjoying discovering Abby.”

Abby Gilmore with her children, Milla and Arlo.

Gilmore said despite being separated she and Stringer worked together to provide the best and most supportive environment for their daughters.

“It is such a tough thing to do, especially at the start, but I think the key to co-parenting is just persistence,” she said.

“It is remembering that it is not about you at the end of the day, and I am really lucky that we are on the same page.

“He (Stringer) is a great dad and a great friend and that is where we are at, he is my friend and it has taken a very long time to get to that.

“And our girls, gosh, we pick Milla up from childcare together and her face just lights up, it means so much to both of them to see us doing things together.”

Gilmore has shared her journey with powerful honesty via her social media platforms in the hope of helping others going through relationship, single parenthood and mental health issues.

She has now taken on her first official role with Liptember, a campaign that runs through September, raising awareness and funds for women’s mental health research and support programs.

Liptember encourages women to ‘kiss away the blues’ by committing to wearing official Liptember lipsticks available from Chemist Warehouse.

Other Liptember ambassadors include Chrissie Swan, Molly Meldrum, Jo Stanley, Sophie Falkiner and Silvana Philippoussis.

“I am aligning myself with things that I believe in and Liptember was a perfect fit and being asked was an honour,” Gilmore said.

“This year I have had a massive mental battle myself and my message is that it is ok not to be ok. It is ok to talk openly and to ask for help and talk to a psychologist, and not to be ashamed about it.

“The most important thing is having people around you who, if you are having a tough time, can bring you back and remind you of how well you are doing and how far you have come.”

Passionate about creating a supportive community, Gilmore has started hosting workshops with her life coach and is looking into studying life coaching and counselling.

To support Liptember, go toliptember.com.au

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