Inked for a moving message
The semicolon tattoos that are being sported by youngsters in the city have a deeper meaning...
By : sneha k sukumar
Update: 2015-07-25 23:54 GMT
If you are wondering what the semi colon tattoo that’s going viral is all about, it’s definitely more than just a fazed punctuation or a minimalist’s dream. In what is now a global movement, this campaign represents hope, love and support to those who are suffering from a gamut of mental health problems. With Bengalureans taking to it by the minute, this is the silent story of a symbol that’s truly turning symbolic for those in need. It all started when Project Semicolon’s Wisconsin-based founder Amy Bleuel got a semicolon tattoo in honour of her father, who lost his life to suicide when she was only 18.
But the movement has now spread across continents with people wearing the tattoo on their wrists as a badge of honour. Bengaluru is not far behind. “Depression and anxiety are illnesses and not just a ‘phase’ contrary to popular belief,” says 22-year-old Shreanca Bhattacharjee who got the semicolon tattoo not just in remembrance of her best friend who lost her life to suicide, but as a symbol to stand in support of it. “Surprisingly, it turned into a conversation starter and a lot of people opened up about their problems to me,” she says.
22-year-old Rahul Ajit was running out of places to go to when he had issues to deal with. “I’ve always wanted a tattoo and didn’t know a particular symbol that was worth investing in. This turned out to be something that I can easily draw courage from,” he says about marking himself with a semicolon on his birthday. “What’s scary though is that it’s turning into a fad without people understanding the meaning behind it,” he adds about the symbol that’s profound enough to mean that it’s not the end. According to the movement, a semicolon is used when we, the authors could have ended our life, a sentence with a period, but didn’t.
Interestingly, Mykel Kumar is one of the few tattoo artistes in the city who connected with the movement instantly and decided to help in any way he could. Now, this 28-year-old tattoos the semicolon free of charge at The Pumpkin Patch. “It’s important because it’s providing support to people that are affected by suicidal tendencies, depression and other similar mental conditions,” he says, inking the symbol on over 10 people in a week. “In the times we live in, everything is so fast paced and we tend to forget to take a step back to notice what people around us are going through. Sometimes, we can be so oblivious to the degree to which they are affected. We tend to not be there for people,” he adds.
It’s not only a symbol for people who self-harm themselves or are depressed and are suffering from anxiety, it’s also for people who are unhappy, going through a broken heart or have lost a loved one. “And it’s high time that mental health was approached with the same attitude as physical health,” says psychotherapist at the Tattva Counseling Centre, Tasneem Nakhoda. “The main intention of the semicolon tattoo is to spread awareness that it’s not the end, to take one big step forward and to carry on. While it can be a huge encouragement to some, it still remains a personal choice. Some may have qualms about revealing the tattoo while some may be silently motivated,” adds Tasneem.