History
HeartSupport was founded by Jake Luhrs in 2011 [2] after fans shared their personal traumas with him while he ran August Burns Red's merch booth. Inspired by these conversations, Luhrs wanted to create a supportive community where people, including fans he had already connected with, could share their stories. [5]
In 2013, HeartSupport toured with August Burns Red during the Vans Warped Tour of that year. [6]
In 2016, HeartSupport's founder, Jake Luhrs, won the Artist Philanthropic Award at the APMA Awards for his work with the organization. [7]
In a 2020 Revolver article, it was reported that HeartSupport had six full-time employees, over a hundred volunteers, and approximately five hundred thousand users per month interacting with the nonprofit through its support forum and social media. [5]
HeartSupport organized a Twitch live stream in support of World Suicide Prevention Day in 2021, titled Choose Life. The stream featured performances and interviews from musical artists such as Brian Welch, Lacey Sturm, We Came as Romans, and more. [8]
In 2023, the organization hosted HeartSupport Fest in Orlando, Florida. The event was a mission-based metal music festival focusing on "diversity, acceptance, inclusion, self-love and self-care, and mental health as priority." [9]
In March 2024, HeartSupport would partner with Beneath the Skin (founded by Brittany Mullins, wife of Memphis May Fire's vocalist Matty Mullins), an organization that provides mentorship to individuals seeking to improve their mental health. [10]
YouTube
HeartSupport is active on their YouTube channel, where a licensed therapist (Taylor Palmby) analyzes the emotional elements behind the lyrics of songs and the visual aspects of their music videos. [11] The channel also hosts interviews with musicians in the metal scene, where the primary topic of discussion revolves around their struggles with their mental health. Past interviewees include Jesse Leach, Andy Biersack, and Ryan Kirby of Fit for a King. [12] [13] [14] In 2019, the organization released a mini-documentary about As I Lay Dying and the band's vocalist Tim Lambesis, titled Misery Evolving. The documentary focuses on the personal side of the band, detailing Lambesis' prison sentence, his rehabilitation, and how those actions affected the band. [15]
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