Support Calls return with customized compassion through a year of peer connection
“I’ve gotten more from this peer support relationship than I have from 25 years of therapy.”
Everybody goes through times in their lives when they just need a little extra support from someone who cares. Unfortunately, we know that most people will never reach out when they need it most — and even if they do, there’s no one there to hear them.
Support Calls change that.
HeartSupport’s entire model exists in community-led care, with repliers poised to answer those who reach out in social media comments. But sometimes, a more longterm relationship can be revelatory.
That was the idea that initially birthed the support call structure, where a supporter receives training to offer someone who needs it a little extra care.
Support Calls originated with Beneath the Skin, an organization founded by Brittany Mullins. Brittany is married to Matty Mullins, lead singer of Memphis May Fire, who wrote a powerful song titled “Beneath the Skin.”
“No one knows all the weight that she holds when she feels alone
(The memories, they haunt her)
No one sees all the pain she brings everywhere she goes
(She feels they’ll never want her)
All she wants is someone to notice
(So sick of feeling invisible)
All she needs is someone to care
(If only they could see that she’s incredible)”
Moved by the stories she heard from her husband’s listeners, Brittany set up a mentorship program for young women through the nonprofit Beneath the Skin. Over the span of eight years, Beneath the Skin facilitated hundreds of year-long mentorships, changing lives forever.
Memphis May Fire was already close to HeartSupport’s cause while sharing the metalcore space with August Burns Red. In 2023, it became clear that the organizations had a twin purpose: to connect music fans in need with the wealth of love, care, and support that already existed in their own scene.
At the end of 2023, the two organizations merged, and the calls structure migrated to HeartSupport. HeartSupport spent 2024 piloting the one-on-one relationships with about 20 pairs of like-minded people. Each pairing spent an hour on a voice or video call each week, talking about music, life, and anything else that was on the peer’s mind.
All supporters pass a background check and undergo a 3-hour, evidence-based video training course. Most importantly, they all have a demonstrable passion for pouring into others. The majority of them have their own stories of resilience and overcoming.
As 2024 was drawing to a close, it was clear that Support Calls held powerful potential. HeartSupport briefly paused the program to adequately staff it and make sure that the experience was seamless for participants. Now, Support Calls are back in action, with 40 pairs operating in 2025 to date. The organization is hoping to see 60 matches total by the end of this year.
Support Calls are not intended to replace therapy; they have the unique potential to augment it, offering the down-to-earth and personal support that professionals can’t always give. The calls are also free thanks to the volunteer supporters, making help accessible to many who would have no other outlet.
“This program led me to start therapy. For the first time, things don't seem that hopeless, and I feel there's a way to manage all these complicated emotions,” peer Juanita said. “You have no idea how much this has helped me. I never asked for help before, and the program encouraged me to do so... This program has changed my life in ways I never thought possible. I had given up on things getting better, and now I have that hope back.”
If you are someone who has been looking for a way to give back to the music community and heal the scene, you can visit our volunteer page and ask to be a supporter. HeartSupport will make sure you feel fully equipped before starting calls, and you’ll be matched with someone based on similar music taste, age, region, and gender preferences.
If you have been needing a little extra support but aren’t sure where to get started, consider starting these weekly Support Calls. This free service could change your life.
