Jesinta Campbell, the fiancee of Sydney Swans star forward Lance "Buddy" Franklin, believes her partner will never "truly recover" from his mental health issues but says he is making steady progress ahead of a return this season.

Franklin has not played a game of football since September after revealing he suffered from mental illness - a condition the Swans had been aware of for some time.

The 29-year-old is back training with the Swans, but Campbell, speaking on the Today show on Monday, said that, although Franklin was doing everything right to be ready for Sydney's opening fixture against Collingwood on March 26, the effects of his mental illness might stick with him for longer than people might expect.

"I don't think you ever truly recover from a mental health issue," Campbell said. "It is really something that you battle with and challenge with every day. I think with anyone who struggles with mental health, it's a day-by-day thing; you just have to tackle the day and do the best that you can. It's hard and just because he is a sports star doesn't mean that he's bulletproof."