WHEN a rugby league mate of Bulldogs star Moses Mbye’s came to him admitting he was struggling with a mental health issue, the five-eighth was clueless about what to do.

With no experience of the condition himself, he knew instantly he needed to learn more about the “silent killer”.

“He has battled his own demons and it was a bit of an eye-opener for me because I was close to him,” the Queenslander said of his mate, who is no longer in the NRL.

“I didn’t know enough at all. That’s part of the reason I wanted to get on board with the NRL and State of Mind; to become an ambassador and to learn more about it.

“If someone does come to me again one day I will be able to help them and guide them in the right direction.”

Mbye’s predicament is being mirrored in football clubs across the country, where stigma about mental health means many suffer in silence.

Others are not sure what to do when someone comes to them for help.

One in two Australians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, with suicide the biggest killer of individuals aged 15-44.

For this reason the new State of Mind ambassadors from all 16 NRL clubs will all head out into junior clubs for the first time next year, in an effort to help educate people about mental health.

media_camera Moses Mbye (right) didn’t know what to do when a league mate approached him with a mental illness. Picture: Andrew Murray

Announced yesterday, the new ambassadors will also be a point of contact for players in their own clubs.

The ambassadors will be trained in Mental Health First Aid, working closely with Lifeline, Headspace, Kids Helpline and The Black Dog Institute.

Other new ambassadors announced in 2016 include Joseph Paulo at the Cronulla Sharks, Matt Ballin from Wests Tigers and Ruan Sims from the Australian Jillaroos.

“You have to look after your physical side by being fit and strong, but I’ve realised the importance of being mentally strong as well,” 31-year-old Matt Ballin said.

“It’s good to know that your teammates are there to support you and can be there to help if you need help.

“I’m someone who is there to help pass the issue onto someone else who is better equipped than me to deal with the issue. We are there to listen and to be a sounding board.”

The NRL is also committed to The Sunday Telegraph’s Can We Talk campaign which encourages people to openly talk about youth suicide and mental health.