MELBOURNE :Australia coach Joe Montemurro praised Mary Fowler for being open about her mental health challenges after the Matildas forward said she struggled with self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

Fowler wrote in her book "Bloom" that she began having suicidal thoughts after moving to France as a 17-year-old to play for Montpellier while feeling under pressure to perform.

Montemurro said the 22-year-old Manchester City attacker had shown courage by managing her wellbeing issues and telling her story.

"It's a little bit of a sign of the pressures that professional athletes and professional sports people are under these days," he said on Monday.

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