Sometimes, two people get the same tattoo because of the meaning that it offers and it can seem like a strange coincidence. However, a new trend has been sweeping the internet over the past three years that has seen thousands of people all getting the same tattoo – a semicolon (;).
Why?
In 2013, a social media movement began called ‘Project Semicolon’ and it looked to target those who had struggled with addiction, depression, anxiety, and were risking their life either through substance-abuse or self-harming. The semicolon is symbolic in that authors use one to separate a sentence they could have finished, instead they use a semicolon to continue. In this campaign, it was suggested that the sentence is people’s lives and we should all work together to help people produce semicolons rather than full-stops.
Originally, the campaign started as a day where people would draw the semicolon on themselves and show off the cause to the world. However, it soon escalated and people all over the world are deciding to have the design tattooed in some way. Some are choosing to simply have the semicolon somewhere; others are placing it as part of a larger design or motivational phrase. At the end though, people’s motives are all the same and the movement is likely to make a huge difference at a time where mental illness and addictions are so prominent.
Aims
The main aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of both addiction and mental illness and to get sufferers the much-needed help they require. However, it is also about how we should always ask for help whenever we feel we need it. With 7 billion people on the planet, it is so easy to feel alone despite the many people who love and support us. When things get rough and you need a helping hand, people are around to help. Life has always been and will continue to be a tricky ride and sometimes it is too hard for one person, there is absolutely no shame in letting people help.
At times, we believe that asking for help shows off a weakness but this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, asking for help shows everyone that we recognize times are getting hard and we need some help along the way. If we get used to asking people for help, people will do the same in return and the world can all help each other through life.
Ultimately, Project Semicolon has started a movement and hopefully it will not stop anytime soon. This doesn’t mean that we should all go out and get tattoos but it does mean that we should start making a conscious effort to reduce suicide rates and start removing the stigma that is attached to mental illness. The only way that we can remove those barriers is if we talk about it so be sure to spread this message and know that it is always ok to ask for help so we can Live Life Fully!
