The SIMS Foundation’s mission is to provide access to and financial support for mental health and addiction recovery services for Austin-area musicians and their families. SIMS was founded in 1995 by the friends and family of Sims Ellison, a talented young Austin musician, after his battle with depression ended in suicide.

Austin is hailed as “The Live Music Capitol of the World” for good reason. With over 200 live music venues and internationally recognized music festivals such as SXSW and ACL, thousands of musicians make this city their home. Unfortunately, with the rising cost of living and increasing competition for jobs in the music business, many musicians find themselves struggling financially and emotionally.
Irregular hours, travel schedules, financial insecurity and proximity to alcohol and drugs can take their toll on musicians and their families, sometimes resulting in depression, anxiety, relationship problems, and alcohol and drug abuse. Professional musicians are often uninsured or underinsured and cannot always pay out of pocket for expensive counseling and addiction treatment. That’s why SIMS is here to help.

 SIMS welcomes musicians from all musical genres, races, and ethnicities who meet the eligibility requirements. The first step for accessing services is to call the Confidential Clinical Number: 512-494-1007 . Staff make every attempt to answer calls as they come in and respond to messages within 24 hours, but please note that this is not a crisis line. Our Clinical Director and Clinical Specialist talk to callers and assess their needs, then match them with an appropriate provider. The client usually pays a small sliding scale fee for services and SIMS pays the rest.

"SIMS saved my life," is a quote we hear often. SIMS relies on community support to stay in business. Please consider volunteering or making a donation to the SIMS Foundation! Find out how you can help Austin musicians stay in tune.