Pineapple Support Seeks Volunteers for Diversity, Fundraising Subcommittees

/in /by

Pineapple Support is launching two new subcommittees to provide advice on diversity and fundraising, and is inviting volunteers to provide recommendations and support to help steer the organization’s direction.

“The direction of Pineapple Support is guided by members of the adult industry who donate their time and ideas to help steer the organization,” said founder and CEO Leya Tanit. “We’re looking to bring in fresh voices and energy that can help us expand our reach and grow our services.”

The Diversity subcommittee will “advise and provide insights on how mental health services, support, events, marketing and communications can better represent the entire spectrum of adult industry members, helping to ensure the organization’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity,” said a rep.

The Fundraising subcommittee “will help guide future fundraising activities by the organization, advising on and helping to organize events and campaigns that will continue to fund Pineapple Support’s mission to support the mental health and well-being of sex workers around the world.”

Those interested in volunteering for either subcommittee should email contact@pineapplesupport.org to request further information. Details about additional ways to support Pineapple Support as a company or individual can be found on the organization’s website.

Streamate Increases Sponsorship of Pineapple Support

/in /by

Streamate has increased its sponsorship of Pineapple Support as a Diamond level sponsor, the highest level of contribution a company has provided to the organization.

“Streamate could not be more pleased to continue supporting the mission of Pineapple Support again this year,” Director of Marketing Liz R said. “Given the complexity of the past two years and all that it has brought with it, mental health is of the utmost importance. We wanted to continue showing our support for all their ongoing efforts in helping performers throughout the industry and could not be more excited to be a Diamond sponsor this year. We encourage anyone in the industry struggling with their mental health to reach out to Pineapple Support and learn about the amazing services they provide.”

The group, founded in 2018 by Leya Tanit, has so far connected over 5,000 adult performers and industry members to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling and emotional support.

“I can’t express how grateful I am to Streamate for their continued support and for greatly expanding their contribution towards the health and safety of the adult industry,” Tanit said.

“Their generous contributions show how much they value those who use their platform and allow us to reach even more performers in the camming industry, while sending a positive message that there is support available for everyone,” she added. “I’d like to thank Streamate and their team from the bottom of my heart for continuing to give back to the adult industry.”

Pineapple Support is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States; click here for sponsorship details.

Protect Your Pineapples – Breast Cancer Awareness Month

/in , /by

Whatever size fruit you have in your basket – Remember to perform a self-exam once a month.

October is breast cancer awareness month, that doesn’t just mean turning half your wardrobe pink, changing your company logo (oh the irony) and proudly pinning a pink ribbon to every outfit.

Breast cancer awareness is about remembering to give yourself a self-exam once a month, it means supporting women affected by it and it means being grateful for your own health.

Each year 1.4 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer, which includes 1 in every 8 women in the USA. But early detection can make a huge difference in beating breast cancer and we think that’s something worth raising awareness about!

So whether your mammaries are like melons or your chesticles are more like cherries we would like to help you get to know your breasts and detect if there is a possible problem.

To show your support and raise awareness we would like to ask you to join our competition. After your self-exam, take a photograph of yourself, covering your credentials with your choice of fruit and post it on social media. Remembering to tag @PineappleYSW #ProtectYourPineapples and link back to this blog to ensure as many women as possible join us and protect their pineapples.

Breast cancer is not always detectable by a lump or hard mass, sometimes the symptoms are visual.

Some changes in your breasts are perfectly normal, but if you are worried, it is always best to visit your doctor.

What is it that you are feeling for?

When feeling for a lump, check from your armpit to your collarbone, down to the bottom of your rib cage. A cancerous lump feels different from a normal breast lump, it often feels hard and immovable and can be any shape or size.

Getting to know your breasts is really important and the best time to give yourself a self-exam is just after your period when things are most normal.

Remember, when breast cancer is found early, survival rates are incredibly high.

Be proactive in caring for our health, self-exam once a month, eat well, exercise regularly and help raise awareness #ProtectYourPineapples

Pineapple Support Continues Corporate Training Initiative

/in /by

Pineapple Support is continuing its Corporate Training Initiative with a new online session to help staff at individual companies provide better support to performers in crisis.

The session will be led by therapist Nicki Line Wednesday at 10 a.m. (PDT).

The first session of the initiative, led by licensed mental health counselor Rachael Wells, was designed to help employees recognize performers in crisis; the new session covers the next steps employees should take.

“If you identify a performer that is in crisis, this course will equip you with a better understanding of the different interventions for various situations and the resources you can provide in order to help,” Line said. “I’ll also be available to participants after the session, who can contact me directly with any specific cases or questions via email and social media.”

Sessions within the Corporate Training Initiative are available exclusively to the employees of companies that sponsor Pineapple Support. The interactive training will take place every two months and will be available to rewatch on a password-protected website.

“We’re eager to continue to build a stronger support network for industry workers,” said Pineapple Support founder Leya Tanit. “In order to avoid more tragic losses in the adult industry, we need to teach the employees who work directly with performers how to provide effective crisis support. It’s essential that we learn how to navigate these types of conversations when someone is in need. We’re already planning to invite participants to gather and talk about the issues they’ve faced on their platforms so that we can better learn from each other.”

Visit PineappleSupport.org and follow the group on Twitter.

Pineapple Support Partners with Cam4 to Host “Survivors of Suicide” Webinar

/in /by

Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health resource, will host a webinar next week to discuss the experience and need of those who have lost someone to suicide. “Survivors of Suicide: Acceptance and Healing,” sponsored by Cam4, will be hosted by licensed mental health counselor Rachael Wells on Tuesday, September 28th, at 1pm EST.

“This permission-giving presentation will cover the experience, needs, and questions of being a survivor of suicide,” says Wells. “We will cover the grieving and healing journey and dispel myths about suicide and grief. Together, we will explore ways to support survivors of suicide, as well as better understanding the path to recovery. Please note that this webinar will cover themes that some listeners may find upsetting.”

Pineapple Support was founded by British performer Leya Tanit in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organisation, which is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has so far connected over 5,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost, therapy, counseling and emotional support.

“Rachel is a talented, sex-positive mental health counselor, with a wealth of experience treating trauma within marginalized communities,” says Tanit. “Attendees of this webinar can draw upon Rachel’s experience, as we explore the process of acceptance and healing for those that have lost someone to suicide. With better understanding and knowledge, we can work together to help prevent future losses in our industry.”

The “Survivors of Suicide: Acceptance and Healing” webinar will take place via Zoom on Tuesday September 28th, at 1pm EST. It is scheduled to last one hour but may extend. Please note that this webinar discusses themes that some listeners may find upsetting. Please visit https://pineapplesupport.org/webinars/ for more information and to access the webinar link.

Falcon/NakedSword Joins Pineapple Support as a Sponsor

/in /by

Falcon/NakedSword has joined over 60 adult businesses and organizations in committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

“The wellbeing of our models is incredibly important to all of the team here at Falcon/NakedSword,” said president Tim Valenti, who also sits on the Pineapple Support Board of Directors. “We are proud to sponsor this vital organization that does so much to ensure the health of our industry. Sponsoring Pineapple Support was an easy decision to make, as by doing so, we’re able to positively influence the lives of adult models all over the world.”

The group, founded in 2018 by Leya Tanit, has so far connected over 5,000 adult performers and industry members to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling and emotional support.

“I would like to thank Falcon/NakedSword and the team for their sponsorship,” Tanit said. “Sponsoring Pineapple Support has numerous benefits, but the most important is obvious; you are giving back to our community.”

Pineapple Support is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States; click here for sponsorship details.

CAM4 Renews Sponsorship of Pineapple Support

/in /by

CAM4 has renewed its sponsorship of Pineapple Support at the Bronze level, joining over 60 adult businesses in committing funds and resources to the organization.

Specific initiatives funded by CAM4’s sponsorship include a free weekly drop-in support group, open to all adult industry members, led by Nicki Line every Monday at 4 p.m. (PDT).

Pineapple Support, founded in 2018 by Leya Tanit, has so far connected over 5,000 adult performers and industry members to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling and emotional support.

CAM4 will also serve as a “key sponsor” for the Pineapple Support podcast.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to partner with the folks at Pineapple Support and help drive important initiatives in our community,” CAM4 Communications Manager Shannon McD said. “The work that Leya and her team do is incredibly important, and we’re proud to be a part of the brilliant initiatives that will support our friends and colleagues in the business.”

Tanit thanked CAM4 for renewing its sponsorship for another year and for “their generous donation towards our weekly drop-in support group.”

“The support group is a vital safe place for all online adult industry professionals to express issues or problems an individual may be having in their life at the time and to find additional support,” Tanit said. “With the continued help of generous sponsors like CAM4, we can continue our work to connect anyone that needs mental health services in the industry with dedicated therapists and counsellors.”

Pineapple Support is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States; click here for sponsorship details.

Pineapple Support, FSC to Host Webinar on Suicide Prevention

/in /by

Pineapple Support will host a free webinar sponsored by Free Speech Coalition (FSC), titled “Suicide Prevention: Awareness, Education, and Strategies to Reduce Risk,” on Friday at 12 p.m. (PDT).

The webinar — discussing suicidality and suicide prevention, with a focus on harm reduction — will be led by licensed social worker Sarah Kelleher.

“This webinar will explore education and awareness surrounding suicide and prevention, as well as strategies to help you and loved ones cope and reduce risk,” Kelleher explained. “Together, we’ll explore the current language and tactics surrounding suicide and how prevention can look during a pandemic, when our go-to community and services may be on hold.”

“It’s important to note that this webinar discusses themes that some listeners may find upsetting,” she added.

Michelle LeBlanc, CEO of FSC said, “The past few months have been stressful for many in our industry, and everyone should be aware of the warning signs of someone in crisis. Over the past few years, FSC has worked hard to build up resources for performers and creators through our Inspire Program.”

“As part of that, it’s essential that we also support the crucial work Pineapple Support is doing to provide mental health resources for our community,” LeBlanc added.

“The adult industry has suffered a number of tragic losses recently,” Pineapple Support Founder Leya Tanit said. “Education and awareness are both vital tools in helping us to protect performers, while we equip ourselves with strategies that can help to prevent future losses in our industry.”

Kelleher is “a licensed social worker, passionate about topics focused on destigmatizing sexuality, sexual and erotic labor, with experience working with clients with a history of trauma, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, PTSD and substance use,” Tanit added. “I can say with confidence that our participants will find this webinar incredibly useful.”

DialXS Joins Pineapple Support as a Sponsor

/in /by

DialXS has joined over 60 adult businesses and organizations in committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

“It is an honor to sponsor an organization which supports the wellbeing of so many,” CEO Chris Visser said. “We’re thankful to Pineapple Support for their hard work in providing these essential services around the world, and for allowing us to play a part in supporting their work.”

The group, founded in 2018 by Leya Tanit, has so far connected over 5,000 adult performers and industry members to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling and emotional support.

“I’m so very thankful to DialXS for their continued support and sponsorship,” Tanit said. “Every cent of your donation will be spent ensuring that no adult performer ever feels as though they have nowhere to turn.”

Pineapple Support is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States; click here for sponsorship details.

Find DialXS online here; visit PineappleSupport.org and follow the group on Twitter.

Pineapple Support to Host Online Event ‘Navigating Relationships’

/in /by

Pineapple Support will host a free, two-day webinar on how to successfully navigate relationships for adult performers on August 25-26.

The event will be led by Pineapple Support therapists and counselors with sponsorship support from Adult Time, Chaturbate, ePlay, Flirt4Free, Segpay and SextPanther.

The two-day schedule of events follows:

Wednesday August 25

10 a.m (PDT): “Healing from codependency” with Ivy Kwong
11 a.m (PDT): “Relationship diversities” with Silva Neves
12 p.m. (PDT): “Communication from the heart” with Nicki Line
1 p.m. (PDT): “Ethical non-monogamy” with Melissa Lesane
2 p.m. (PDR): “Relationships in the industry — Reinvention” with Rachel Wells
Thursday August 26

10 a.m (PDT): “Defining your needs in a relationship” with Alex Mufson
11 a.m (PDT): “Hot crossed boundaries” with Emily Richman
12 p.m. (PDT): “Relationships after trauma” with Shea Graham
1 p.m. (PDT): “Loving yourself” with Wendy Haggerty
2 p.m. (PDR): “Red flags” with Alex Mufson
“We’re proud to support Pineapple as they work to provide guidance, validation and understanding to the performers in our industry,” President of Flirt4Free David Aguilar said. ”Every human being needs support, particularly those whose occupational stigma can blind the general public to the dynamic, creative and passionate people they are.”

Chaturbate COO Shirley Lara said the company is pleased to join Pineapple Support in sponsoring the event.

“The health and wellness of the Chaturbate community is a top priority and we encourage everyone to attend this event for guidance on how to create and foster a healthy relationship,” she added.

The group, founded in 2018 by Leya Tanit, has so far connected over 5,000 adult performers and industry members to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling and emotional support.

“No matter which industry you work in or what you do, finding and maintaining relationships, particularly romantic ones, can be a challenge,” Tanit said. “Add the complications and unique stressors of working in the adult industry and the prospect can sometimes feel out of reach. These webinars will help adult workers navigate and thrive in their personal lives.”

Click here for additional event details, including how to register.

Pineapple Support is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States; find sponsorship details here and follow the group on Twitter.