If you’re a freelancer, gig worker, or independent creative, chances are you’ve had at least one of these thoughts:

“I wish I had someone to talk to about this burnout.”
“Do I even qualify for mental health support through this project?”
“I’m not an employee — does that mean I just have to deal with it on my own?”

You’re not imagining it. Traditional Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) weren’t built for you.

They were designed for 9–5 employees in permanent roles, not project-based artists, independent producers, designers, or facilitators juggling five contracts at once.

But that’s changing — and at Hey Mate, we’re leading that shift.