Over The Bridge has announced the launch of Supporting Act, its new and improved peer support program to foster greater mental health and wellness for members of the music community. With Supporting Act, Over The Bridge says it will be able to offer stronger support to the music community across a variety of channels.

Over The Bridge is a Canadian non-profit that assists industry members, who are at their most vulnerable, cultivate and achieve long-term mental health and addiction recovery goals.

“Over The Bridge Supporting Act takes a person-first approach to peer support. This person-first approach puts the person before their struggles, describing what the person ‘has’ rather than asserting what the person ‘is’,” says Ace Piva, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Over The Bridge. “Supporting Act groups are run by trained peer support facilitators from the music community, for the music community.”

The new Supporting Act program offers artists, musicians, and staff of all types in the music community a way to receive the support they need to foster recovery and better mental health. Through a variety of channels, including virtual peer support meetings, a private Facebook group, and in-person meet-ups (when possible), Supporting Act is designed to give members of the music community the support they need on a schedule that works for them.

“Whether our community members are at home or on the road, it is our goal to make Supporting Act easily accessible for all,” said Piva.

Supporting Act builds on the peer support services that Over The Bridge has continued to offer for well over a year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the music industry was one of the hardest hit, with members across the community, from performers to front-of-house staff, having their careers disrupted by the virus. This has not only hurt members’ physical health but their emotional and mental health as well. Supporting Act is designed to provide recovery and mental health resources specifically for members of the music community, offering peer support and assistance to those who have been there.

Supporting Act offers several ways for people to get the support they need, including twice-a-week virtual peer support sessions, a private Facebook group for members to interact with, and digital resources through OverTheBridge.org. Together with the help of the Over The Bridge staff, these resources make it possible for members of the music community to take steps towards better mental health and wellness.

“We’re really excited to offer Supporting Act to the people who want it,” said Piva.

People who are curious about Supporting Act are welcome to join the free virtual sessions, which happen every Tuesday and Friday at 2 pm (ET) over Zoom. To stay up to date, follow Over The Bridge on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

For more information, contact Over The Bridge: info@overthebridge.org, www.overthebridge.org.

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