The semicolon is what the author uses to show a sentence hasn’t ended….“the author is you, and the sentence is your life;”
In a show of support for those dealing with mental health problems, hundreds of people have been getting the semicolon tattoo. There is a huge amount of significance behind the “trend”, led by Amy Bleuel. Amy came up with the idea two years ago, when her father lost his battle with suicide. She got her semicolon tattoo as a way to remember him, as well as to combat the pain it felt to lose him. She says that his death was the most pain she “had ever experienced.” An urge struck her, leading her to create Project Semicolon to support and guide those who struggle with similar problems.
#Semicolon – where a writer could stop, but opts to keep going. Now an anti suicide & #mentalhealth metaphor #Respect pic.twitter.com/5GMUv3JjX5
— Slim (@TheSlimfamous) July 21, 2015
About Project Semicolon
Project Semicolon’s site describes the organization as a “faith-based nonprofit”. The Christian organization has dedicated itself to “presenting hope and love to those who are struggling with depression, suicide, addiction and self-injury.” Those who show support might take part in events, social discussions or getting a semicolon tattoo. You might be wondering, why a semicolon? In literature, the semicolon is what the author uses to show a sentence hasn’t ended. The site says that in this situation, “the author is you, and the sentence is your life;” These tattoos represent the strength of those who face internal turmoil, struggling with mental health disorders and other problems that aren’t visible to the eye.
One young woman, Heather Prarrie, was inspired by the movement. She got her semicolon tattoo, and wrote a post that detailed her own mental health woes. In her blog, she shared the diagnosis she received, which was depression and anxiety, and how it impacted her life. She was forced to leave a job that she was happy with because of the issues she fought against, and the way they harmed her work performance. To her, the tattoo allowed her to “champion for the people who cannot champion for themselves.”