Pineapple Support, a nonprofit organization providing mental health services to the adult industry, is marking its sixth anniversary. The organization reports that since its founding in April 2018, it has provided over $1.5 million in therapy, support services, and resources to adult workers, reaching over 14,000 performers and creators.
Organizational Growth and Services
Pineapple Support was launched in April 2018 by adult performer Leya Tanit. The organization was founded in response to a series of deaths in the adult industry in late 2017 and early 2018 that resulted from mental illness or addiction, including that of August Ames. Tanit chose the name "Pineapple" because it is a common safeword in the BDSM community, and she wanted the organization to be "a safeword for performers."
The nonprofit provides free and low-cost mental health therapy to pornographic film actors, producers, and others who work in the adult film industry. In its first two years, Pineapple Support provided over a thousand members of the adult film industry with mental health support and resources, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling, and emotional support. The organization operates 24/7 and aims to end the stigma associated with mental health and sex work on a societal level.
Pineapple Support has expanded its reach, now connecting nearly 3,500 performers, producers, and other members of the adult community with emotional support and therapy in the past year. The organization has provided over 32,000 one-on-one therapy sessions to adult workers. It currently processes nearly 200 support requests per month, with another thousand performers utilizing its Emotional Support text service. Pineapple Support has nearly 400 mental health professionals registered, providing care across five continents and in 23 languages, in addition to more than 750 volunteer listeners on their text support line.
The organization brings therapists to the AVN Awards to provide free, walk-in sessions for adult performers. In October 2019, Pineapple Support hosted the first online mental health summit specifically for the adult film industry, featuring sessions with over a dozen therapists. Pineapple Support works with over one hundred therapists worldwide. The organization has also hosted over 48 webinars and 252 support group meetings, spoken at or attended 11 major industry events, and conducted mental health awareness training sessions for 7 different platforms and businesses. It has also hosted 12 corporate training events for current sponsors.
Impact and Efficiency
Since its inception, Pineapple Support has provided over $1.5 million in therapy and support services and reached over 14,000 performers and creators. The organization reports that since 2020, an average of 79% of all donations have gone directly to therapy and program costs, making it one of the most efficient non-profits in the U.S.
A 2023 mental health survey conducted by Pineapple Support gathered insights into the needs of the community. More than 700 creators responded to the survey. Of these respondents, 60% reported feeling stigmatized due to their work in the industry, and 43% stated that the industry needed to provide additional support for their mental health.
Leya Tanit, Founder and CEO of Pineapple Support, stated that the organization is at maximum capacity with a waiting list of over 160 performers due to current funding constraints. Alison Boden is listed as the President of Pineapple Support Society, which has a main address in Bingham Farms, MI.
Funding and Future Initiatives
Pineapple Support receives major funding from adult industry sources such as Pornhub, xHamster, Kink.com, and Chaturbate. The organization has also partnered with adult industry leaders for events, such as a Suicide Prevention Webinar hosted with the non-profit advocacy group Free Speech Coalition and a Restorative Yoga Workshop hosted with the cam site XLoveCam (Shoshoro N.V.).
Pineapple Support is working to launch more initiatives, support groups, webinars, events, and campaigns in the coming months. The organization encourages companies and individuals to consider sponsorship and other forms of support.
Key Facts
- Pineapple Support was founded in April 2018 by Leya Tanit.
- The organization has provided over $1.5 million in therapy and support services.
- It has reached over 14,000 adult workers since its founding.
- Pineapple Support has nearly 400 mental health professionals registered, providing care across five continents and in 23 languages.
- Since 2020, an average of 79% of all donations have gone directly to therapy and program costs.
- A 2023 survey indicated that 60% of creators feel stigmatized due to their work, and 43% believe the industry needs to provide more mental health support.
