A mental health awareness program run by the NRL for grassroots clubs in the Eastern States would be brought to WA if Labor was elected on March 11, shadow health minister Roger Cook announced yesterday.

The NRL’s State of Mind program, which offers a six-step process including education sessions, action plan and events, will receive $100,000 for two years to be implemented at local rugby league clubs around WA.

Mr Cook said one of Labor’s key goals for mental health was to reach out to young people.

“One of the ways we can do that is use sport to introduce them to the issues of mental health and encourage them to get help if they need it, but more importantly, de-stigmatise the issue,” Mr Cook said.

Camera Icon Bowman Smith, David Shillington, Roger Cook, Zan Pomare, John Sackson and Christian Smith show support for the NRL mental health program. Credit: The West Australian, Steve Ferrier/ The West Australian.

He said the program would be available to WA’s 4000 local rugby players.

Program ambassador and former Canberra Raiders prop David Shillington said the program had given clubs the ability to recognise mental health issues with players.

“The issues have become a bit more prominent, and they’re quite scary for club presidents and coaches looking after the kids,” Mr Shillington said.

“They want to know what to do should there be an incident that occurs and how they should handle it.”