Southampton FC and Saints Foundation partner with Say It Lad

Southampton Football Club and the Saints Foundation have entered into a new partnership with Say It Lad. This collaboration coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week.

Say It Lad is the first anonymous voice note platform in the UK. It was developed to assist men in discussing their mental health more freely. The platform uses anonymous voice notes to allow users to share their personal experiences and struggles. This method is intended to eliminate the pressure of using a name or facing judgment and scrutiny.

Supporters attending the play-off semi-final against Middlesbrough can participate in the campaign. QR codes have been placed on the backs of seats throughout the Northam stand. Scanning these codes directs fans to the Say It Lad platform, where they can listen to a library of anonymous stories or share their own experiences.

The platform focuses on authentic conversations similar to those held between friends at football terraces or in pubs, rather than using corporate or clinical language. This approach aims to show men that they are not alone in their experiences.

Tsvetelina Georgieva, the Health & Wellbeing Coordinator for Saints Foundation, stated that football provides a space for people to connect and offer honest support. She noted that the partnership is a way to reach men in a comfortable environment. The initiative aims to ensure supporters know they do not need to bottle up their feelings and that understanding is available.

This campaign is part of a broader commitment by the club and the foundation to support mental health and wellbeing within the community. Information regarding mental health support through the Saints Foundation or its partners is available via the provided link.