PORT Adelaide ruckman Matthew Lobbe is no stranger to overcoming physical injury, but is now tackling mental health head-on in his role as a Lifeline Adelaide ambassador.

“I’ve recently jumped in with Lifeline because my family’s had mental health challenges over the last few years,” Lobbe said.

“My mum’s had depression and one of my brothers has also had a mental health illness.

“It’s changed the whole way I view mental health. I sort of looked at it like it was something only certain people got, but seeing mum – who was always the strongest person I knew – to see her get depression and work through it, it demonstrated to me that it can happen to anyone.”

Lobbe, who recently returned to the playing field after an 11-week layoff with a knee injury, said one of the barriers to overcoming mental illness is the stigma that surrounds it.

“You get an injury like a knee injury, everyone can see it,” he said.

“When it comes to mental health issues no one can see it.

"The fact that there’s a stigma and the fact it’s uncomfortable for people to talk about means the people who are actually going through the illness find it even harder.

“The more people that start talking about it, opening up about it, it’s just going to help everyone.”

Lobbe is ready, willing and able to start the conversation knowing it's a small but vital step in the long road to recovery.

“The last two months mum’s been really good which is great for her and my brother has been managing really well for a long period of time now,” Lobbe said.

But mental health is still a major issue and Lobbe will do whatever it takes to raise awareness and promote the services Lifeline Adelaide offers.

“They’re really equipped to handle any issue,” Lobbe said.

“As much as anything they’re just there to have a chat to anyone that’s struggling and needs to talk to someone.”

Lifeline Adelaide’s volunteer counsellors received 43,000 calls last year. To maintain its service level Lifeline trains around 120 volunteers annually at a cost of about $2800 per person.

If you need crisis support call 13 11 14 now. http://www.unitingcommunities.org