You may have heard about Project Semicolon from friends, celebrities like Selena Gomez or just in passing, but have you ever looked into it? If not, then I’m here to tell you about how a tattoo can save a life.
Project Semicolon was started in 2013 by Amy Bleuel, who shared her story about mental health and suicide to inspire others before committing suicide herself in 2017. The project started in honor of Bleuel’s father, who committed suicide in 2013.
The official website itself states: “Within the belief that suicide is generally preventable, the mission of Project Semicolon is to help reduce the incidents of suicide in the world through connected community and greater access to information and resources. We believe that suicide prevention is the collective responsibility of each and every person on the planet.”
I, myself, got the tattoo in 2015 when I started college. Earlier that year, I had finally started reaching out for help and wanted a permanent reminder that I was able to keep pushing on and also as a way to eliminate the stigma around mental health.
I figured it would be a conversation starter and be a way to reach out to others who needed help. Time and time again, it has been a powerful reminder that I am more than my mental illness and that I just needed to pause, breathe, and keep going.
Maybe getting the semicolon tattoo can help you on your mental health journey or just having the image of it somewhere you will see often. Maybe the semicolon doesn’t resonate with you, but another symbol does.
It’s important to find at least one thing that you can look to during tough times whether it’s an image, an activity, a song. Everyone’s journey is different but meaningful.
Don’t ever forget that you’re not alone in this world and that there is always someone somewhere who cares about you. Your story isn’t over yet.