Dockers take time to talk

For Garrick Ibbotson it was the suicide of two friends during his days as a junior footballer that made him jump at the chance to become a Lifeline WA ambassador.

For Alex Silvagni it was the bleak statistics of suicide rates.

Both Fremantle Dockers players are now committed to breaking down the stigma of mental illness and letting others know help is available.

"In my position as a Fremantle Docker you want to be able to say 'it's OK to talk about issues that are going on out there'," Silvagni said. "Coming from where I am in the football environment everyone thinks of it as a macho environment but we still talk about issues, we still have psychologists on hand."

Ibbotson said having lost friends to suicide made it a personal cause. "It's something I feel passionate about," he said. "I think it's about not knowing who to go to and who to talk to."

Lifeline WA chief executive Fiona Kalaf said the partnership aimed to raise awareness of emotional wellbeing and the risk of suicide.