In the spring ManyVids was extremely proud to contribute to the vital work of Pineapple Support, a charity that offers emotional support to those in the adult industry, through a $10,000 donation. Our partnership with this amazing organization is continuing as they now have a profile page on MV! Check out PineappleYSW.ManyVids.com to both discover more about this amazing organization and to see some free vids with both more info and some techniques for dealing with stress. 

And to formally launch their profile and let the entire MV Community know more about Pineapple Support and what they offer, we conducted this interview to go more in-depth with them about their vital mission: 

What is Pineapple Support and how did it begin? 

Pineapple Support is a non-profit organization that provides free and low-cost emotional support and professional mental health services to those working in the adult industry.  

The organization was founded by Leya Tanit in April 2018 after a string of losses in the adult industry due to mental health struggles. Leya, deeply affected by the deaths, saw a need for adequate and affordable mental health services within the industry and set to creating a resource that would be accessible to all adult industry professionals. 

What does Pineapple Support offer its clients?  

Pineapple Support provides two major resources: 

24/7 emotional support service: The Pineapple Support online emotional support service is provided through a separate community through 7 Cups of Tea. It allows members and guests to anonymously connect with trained listeners in order to gain support for everyday issues, including mental health. 

This service can be accessed 24 hours a day from your computer or mobile device. There will always be a caring, trained volunteer who genuinely wants to listen and support you without discrimination, judgment or stigma. 

Pineapple support therapy, counseling, and coaching: At Pineapple Support, we believe that mental health care should be available to everyone, that is why we have made it our passion to offer free and subsidized professional psychotherapy and mental health care to all professionals working in the adult industry who need our support. 

Our team of independent therapists are all sex-positive, kink aware and sex-worker friendly, offer in-person therapy sessions where possible, otherwise, sessions are held remotely via online vid platforms. They provide services without regard to age, profession, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation disability, or socioeconomic status. 

At Pineapple Support, we want to be able to support as many performers as we can. That is why we ask you to contribute whatever you can toward your therapy sessions (we cover the rest). Every dollar you contribute yourself is a dollar we can use to help support another performer in need of therapy. So please give as much as you can. 

In addition to these resources, Pineapple Support also sponsors regular online group therapy as well as online courses in DBT and in-person group therapy sessions for those based in Los Angeles. 

The Pineapple Summit, the 1st adult industry online mental health summit was launched in October 2019 where 14 therapists gave presentations of different aspects of mental health and how to understand and cope better within the industry. We are currently in the process of adding these vids to an online resource center which we hope to launch later this year add to after our next Pineapple Summit in early 2020. 

How can MV Stars use your services through ManyVids?  

MV Stars can access all the Pineapple Support services by visiting PineappleSupport.org. 

 How can MV Stars become Pineapple Support ambassadors? 

Pineapple Support brand ambassadors are models who promise to uphold the Pineapple Support ethical standards. To be kind and caring to all, without regard to age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, profession, disability, or socioeconomic status. They promise to look out for those in need and alert them to the services offered by Pineapple Support. To volunteer their time as Pineapple Support active listeners and to lend a hand during conferences and shows whenever possible. 

Most of all, the promise to spread positivity and Pineapple love throughout our community. 

Why is Pineapple Support needed and what are some unique challenges you feel adult creators face? 

Working in the adult industry can be extremely stressful. Content creators are running a business, usually single handed, from marketing to accounting. On top of this you need to look your best, communicate with customers, run your social media and find the time to create content, which can be extremely tiring both physically and mentally. 

But the main challenge that adult creators face is stigma. This stigma can play such a huge part in a performer’s life. It affects who they can speak to, spend time with, where they can have a bank account, where they are able to live. When you are confronted by all this judgment daily, on both a social and professional level, it affects a person’s mental health. 

What do you feel are some major misconceptions the public has about adult entertainment and adult creators?  

There are so many misconceptions regarding adult entertainment and content creators. That they need saving. That it is an easy job. That they would never choose this career on their own. That they are not educated. 

Adult industry professionals are intelligent, strong, incredible people who should not only be admired for the content they produce but respected for the incredible people they are. 

What do you hope to see for Pineapple support’s future and future goals? 

Eventually, we aspire to end the stigma associated with mental health and sex work on broader societal levels. To be a household name within the industry and a first po0int of call for anyone content creator needing emotional support. 

 How can fans of adult entertainment and MV Members support your work?  

• Donate  
• Volunteer 
• Follow 
• Retweet 
• Spread the word! 

The MV Team wants to thank Pineapple Support once more for their incredible work—together all of us can unite to uplift and support sex workers and we can all play a role in normalizing sex work as an awesome and empowering career. If you're an MV Star who could use Pineapple Supports services you can find out more about them and contact them through their ManyVids Profile at PineappleYSW.ManyVids.com and on Twitter at Twitter.com/PineappleYSW and If it’s a major emergency, please call 911 or head to your nearest hospital’s emergency room.