A Helena tattoo shop is promoting suicide awareness and mental health advocacy during National Suicide Prevention Month by hosting a semicolon tattoo event. Divine Piercing and Body Art held the discounted tattoo event on Friday, directing all proceeds to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The shop's artists participated by offering over 70 unique designs.
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The semicolon has emerged as a universal symbol for mental health and suicide awareness, representing personal struggles as well as honoring loved ones lost. Tattoo artist Heather Ditch explained, "The semicolon tattoo symbolizes that your story isn't over." This marks the third year of the event, but the first time donations are benefiting NAMI. Ditch shared her personal connection to the cause, having experienced a suicide attempt herself.
As a former teacher, she emphasized the importance of mental health support in the community, particularly in Montana, which ranks fifth in the nation for suicide rates. "Support each other in suicide awareness because it’s something that we should be talking about," Ditch stated.
Customer Hope Wolfe expressed the significance of her tattoo in reclaiming her story. "I had an attempt in the past that was pretty hard to get over. I want to put a positive spin on it," Wolfe said. She noted that being open about mental health has greatly aided her recovery, making conversations about such topics crucial.
The aim of the event extends beyond tattoos; organizers hope to foster open discussions about mental health and remind individuals that they are not alone. For those struggling, the message is clear: support is available, and help can be just a call or text away at 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.