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Nottingham Forest Foundation is working with mental health charity Say It Lad to encourage Forest supporters to open up about their mental health and take the first step towards seeking support.

The initiative launches ahead of the Manchester City fixture on 7 November in recognition of Men’s Health Month and forms part of the Foundation’s Tricky to Talk mental health programme, alongside the Premier League’s season-long Together Against Suicide campaign.

Supporters attending Nottingham Forest fixtures who are situated in the safe standing section of the lower John Robertson Stand will see specially designed stickers encouraging anyone experiencing difficulties with their mental health to scan a QR code. The code provides access to Say It Lad’s website, where visitors can listen to anonymous voice notes shared by men talking openly about their own experiences.

Founded by Jonny Human, Say It Lad is a mental health initiative that uses the power of shared experiences to help men feel less alone. Its platform gives men an opportunity to anonymously share their thoughts, feelings and personal struggles through voice notes, while allowing others to listen and recognise that they may not be the only ones going through difficult times.

The organisation works with football clubs across the country, using the reach and communities of the game to make conversations around men’s mental health more accessible and encourage supporters to speak up.

Say It Lad Founder and Creative Lead, Jonny Human, said: “You think you are the only one dealing with stress or worry until you hear another man saying the exact same thing in his own voice. Scan the code or head to sayitlad.com, listen to real notes from real lads just like you.”

The collaboration has also received support from Nottingham Forest groups and individual supporters, who joined Foundation staff in applying the stickers to the safety rails. Their involvement reflects a shared commitment to making conversations about mental health part of the matchday experience.

The initiative builds on Nottingham Forest’s ongoing commitment to supporting supporters with their mental health on a matchday. Earlier this season, the Club and Foundation introduced Tricky to Talk Matchday Hubs and Matchday Walk and Talks, creating further opportunities for fans to access support, connect with others and talk about how they are feeling in a welcoming environment.

Together, these initiatives aim to make mental health support more visible and accessible to supporters, helping to create a matchday experience where everyone feels able to reach out if they need to.

Bill Johalal, from Punjabi Forest, said: “Anything that encourages people to talk about their mental health, particularly young men, is a positive thing. It’s not always easy for men to speak out, as there can still be a stigma around mental health. Initiatives like Say It Lad provide an accessible and anonymous way for people to reach out, which can make a real difference. Any opportunity to encourage more people to open up and seek support has to be a good thing.”

Des Oldham added: “Coming along to football can be a great distraction and a chance to switch off, but sometimes that’s not enough. Being part of a crowd and feeling like you belong can be really positive, but when you’re one of 30,000 people, it can also feel overwhelming. Having the opportunity to reach out anonymously through initiatives like Say It Lad is brilliant. It can make that first step towards talking feel much less daunting.”

Through its Tricky to Talk programme, Nottingham Forest Foundation works to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health and create opportunities for people to access information, support and guidance.

To find out more, visit sayitlad.com.