Joe Williams, an Indigenous mental health advocate, and Christine Morgan, the newly-appointed suicide prevention adviser to the Prime Minister, received the fourth annual Mental Health Prize last week.

The former Rabbitohs player and author of Defying the Enemy Within, who has had his own mental health issues, said he was truly humbled by the award. "Obviously we don't do these sorts of things for rewards or pats on the backs but to be nominated and then named a finalist and then to be named a co-winner it has blown me away," he said.

"Nothing changes for me, I am still Joe and I will always be for the people advocating for people on the ground."

Since starting his organisation in 2014, Mr Williams has not received any funding from the government in his mission. He hoped the new accolade would help reach a wider audience.

Mr Williams recently released his book in the United States and Canada, and travelled the States on a book launch. He said his focus is now shifting to helping First Nations people across the world heal from trauma.

"We might be on different parts of the earth, but our trauma stems from the effects of colonisation," he said. "Maybe we need to look at the First People's way of healing to heal a broader community."

Mr Williams has strong connections with Cowra.