HELENA, Mont. — A Helena tattoo shop is using small but powerful symbols to promote suicide awareness and mental health advocacy during National Suicide Prevention Month.
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Divine Piercing and Body Art hosted a discounted semicolon tattoo event Friday, with all proceeds going to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. All of the shop's artists participated, offering more than 70 designs for customers to choose from.
The semicolon has become a universal symbol for suicide awareness and mental health advocacy. For some, it represents their own struggles. For others, it honors loved ones lost or supports friends still fighting.
"The semicolon tattoo symbolizes that your story isn't over," tattoo artist Heather Ditch said.
This is the third year Divine has hosted the event, but the first year donations are benefiting NAMI.
For Ditch, the cause is personal.
"I have had my own suicide attempt in the past, and so I think moving forward and reminding myself to make sure that I can be more, do more and still show up every day and live life to the fullest," Ditch said.
Ditch, a former teacher, says she saw firsthand how important mental health support can be in the community — especially in Montana.
"Support each other in suicide awareness because Montana is number five in the nation, and so it's something that we should be talking about," Ditch said.
For customer Hope Wolfe, getting a tattoo is about reclaiming her story.
"I had an attempt in the past that was pretty hard to get over. I don't want to look at it as a negative thing. I want to put a positive spin on it," Wolfe said.
Wolfe says being open about mental health made a major difference in her recovery, and getting one of these tattoos is just one way to start that conversation.
"Once I was able to talk about it, it was so much easier to actually start getting help and feeling better. Encouraging people to talk about it could help so many people out," Wolfe said.
"It helps. It gets better," Wolfe said.
Organizers say the goal goes beyond tattoos — they hope the event encourages more open conversations about mental health and reminds people they are not alone.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
