Mental Health Resources
People working online in the adult industry face unique issues that can adversely affect mental health. Unfortunately, working on the Internet can mean that broadcasters will have to deal with privacy issues, verbal harassment, and forms of sexual violence. Especially for those from marginalized racial, gender, and sexual minority groups, these issues can take a toll on users.
Online safety is critical to the mental health and physical safety of cam models. Cammers often have to deal with “capping,” doxing, and online harassment. However, there are strategies for protecting yourself.
Capping is short-hand for “capturing” or “screen capturing.” Internet users may record your shows without your permission, post that content on adult video sharing websites, and/or try to resell your content. If your show is capped and hosted elsewhere, we offer a free content takedown notice service. Submit a request here with direct links to your content and support will assist you with sending notices.
In camming, doxing refers to when an internet user acquires, usually through online research or hacking, identifiable information about a cam model and then shares it with others. Doxing can also lead to off and online harassment. Independent broadcasters must take care to not share details about their location or other personal information while on cam or on their profiles. As noted in the Chaturbate Terms and Privacy Policy, we recommend using a Chaturbate username that is not related or in any way connected to your non-Chaturbate identity. We also recommend confining your communications to the Chaturbate platform to avoid accidentally disclosing your phone number or address through other communication platforms or third party wish lists. If you share pictures, turn off geo-tags. In addition to these recommendations, many independent broadcasters have developed strategies for dealing with these issues and created public resources for one another.
Whether you are new to camming or a veteran, there are various online community forums for cam models, many of which were created by and run by current and former cam models. In these forums, you will find tips and advice from experienced cam models. These spaces are also terrific sources of community, where you will find like-minded people who support one another emotionally and share information about the industry:
Doxing is present in all online platforms such that the US Department of Homeland Security has published a guide on how to deal with and hopefully prevent online harassment from doxing. Please see the attached PDF to access this guide.
In addition to the preventive resources above, if you would like to seek mental health support, please see the information below regarding services provided both by mental health professionals and sex worker advocate groups:
Pineapple Support provides 24/7 online emotional support, as well as free and subsidized professional therapy and advice to adult performers and producers in the UK, US, Romania, and Colombia.
Mental Health Resource Guide for all BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color) can be found here. For mental health resources for BIPOC sex workers check here.
If you are experiencing depression or are contemplating suicide and need immediate assistance, see the resources below:
In the US: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish. 1-800-273-8255. They also offer resources and information for LGBTQIA+ people who are having suicidal feelings. If you are a US Veteran, contact the Veteran’s Crisis Line, 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 or Text 838255.
If you do not want to call, you can text a counselor at the Crisis Text Line 24/7:
US and Canada: text 741741
UK: text 85258
Ireland: text 50808
In the UK: Samaritans
In Canada: The Crisis Centre
In Spain: Telefono Del Esperanza
In Romania: Romanian Alliance for Suicide Prevention
In South Africa: Careline Crisis
In the Philippines: Natasha Goulbourn Foundation
In Brazil: Centro de Vaporization da Vida
In Colombia: Telefono Del Esperanza (available in Bogotá, Barranquilla, Pasto and Medellín)
For a global directory of international suicide hotlines, see Befrienders Worldwide or Suicide.org’s International Directory.
Drug & Alcohol Abuse
If need help with alcohol or drug addiction you may wish to contact Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. Meetings are available internationally, both in-person and online.
In the US, if you are looking for in- or out-patient treatment, you may wish to contact the SAMHSA's National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Their Treatment Referral Routing Service provides 24-hour free and confidential treatment referral and information about mental and/or substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery in English and Spanish.
Sex Addiction
If you think you might be a sex addict or need help with sexual addiction you may wish to contact Sex Addicts Anonymous. To find meetings outside of the United States and Canada, click here.
Sexual Violence/Assault
In the US, if you are a survivor of sexual violence, or need immediate assistance you may wish to call: the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you are experiencing intimate partner violence, in the US, you may wish to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline or the National Dating Abuse Helpline, 24 hour Hotline: 1-866-331-9474.
For international resources for survivors around the world, you can check the Open Counseling in Romania, and the NAASCA’s list of hotlines for help in South America.
In the UK, if you identify as a sex worker and experienced sexual violence and need support, you may wish to contact National Ugly MUGS.
Chaturbate wants everyone to have fun but in ways that are safe, sane, and consensual.
We want to ensure community members engage in safe sex practices, and have access to information and resources that support members’ sexual and mental health needs.
DISCLAIMER:
Please note that this page was not designed to endorse nor guarantee satisfaction with these resources. These resources are provided as a starting point that you may wish to review.