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Tattoos of Semicolons Offer Love and Hope to Those Struggling with Mental Health Issues

By Jenny Zhang on July 8, 2015

A growing number of people are imprinting their skin with semicolons, either as temporary drawings or permanent tattoos. The trend isn't a simple fashion statement or celebration of punctuation, however; the body inkings are part of Project Semicolon, a faith-based non-profit movement dedicated to supporting those who struggle with self-harm, addiction, and suicidal thoughts.

“A semicolon,” reads the project's website, “is used when an author could've chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life.”

The initiative began in 2013, when Project Semicolon founder Amy Bluel wanted to honor her father, whom she lost to suicide. With the goal of raising awareness for mental health issues, Bluel worked to spread the symbol of the semicolon. The movement picked up steam and gradually turned into a global movement, with thousands of people all over the world sharing messages of love and encouragement for those who are battling their demons. Now, Project Semicolon hopes to continue serving as a beacon of inspiration shining a light on the stigma surrounding mental health. By proudly displaying the mark of a semicolon, the project's supporters are spreading the belief that “this is not the end, but a new beginning.”

Above photo source: Project Semicolon / Facebook