Semicolon Tattoo Meaning: The Story Behind Project Semicolon

It is one of the smallest tattoos you can get, and one of the most meaningful. A single semicolon, often on the wrist, has become a worldwide symbol for people who have struggled with depression, self-harm or thoughts of suicide, and chose to keep going.

If you are struggling right now, please reach out. In the US you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans are available free at 116 123. Elsewhere, your local emergency number or a doctor can connect you with support.

What the semicolon tattoo means

In writing, a semicolon is used where a sentence could have ended but continues. That grammar is the whole idea. As Project Semicolon puts it, a semicolon is used when an author could have chosen to end their sentence but chose not to, and "the author is you and the sentence is your life."

For the person wearing it, the tattoo can mean many things: that they survived a suicide attempt or a very dark period, that they live with a mental health condition and are still here, or that they stand with a friend or family member who is struggling. For some it is a memorial to someone they lost.

Where it came from: Project Semicolon

The symbol comes from Project Semicolon, founded in 2013 by Amy Bleuel in Wisconsin. Bleuel had lived with depression and self-harm, and her father died by suicide in 2003. She started the project to honour him and to encourage people to talk openly about mental health.

The original idea was simple: draw or tattoo a semicolon on yourself and share your story. In the summer of 2015 the movement spread rapidly on social media, and semicolon tattoos appeared around the world.

Bleuel died in March 2017, at the age of 31. Her death was a painful reminder that mental illness can be deadly even for people who are open about it and surrounded by support, and that recovery is not a straight line. Project Semicolon continues as a nonprofit dedicated to mental health advocacy and suicide prevention.

Semicolon tattoo design ideas

• The simple semicolon: small, black and clean. Its understatement is its power, and it is easy to hide or show.
• Semicolon butterfly: the semicolon forms the body of a butterfly, a common symbol of transformation.
• Semicolon heart: the dot and comma worked into a heart outline.
• With words: "Keep going," "Still here," "My story isn't over," or a line from a song or poem that helped.
• Colour: some people add teal and purple, colours associated with suicide prevention awareness, or a green ribbon for mental health awareness.
• Floral or botanical: the semicolon growing into a stem or vine, symbolising growth.
• Matching tattoos: friends, siblings or parents getting the same semicolon as a shared promise.

Placement

The wrist is the most popular spot. For some people it is a deliberate choice to place a symbol of survival where self-harm scars may be, and for others it is simply a place they will see often. Other common placements include behind the ear, the ankle, the finger, the inner arm and the collarbone.

If you have scarring in the area you want tattooed, talk to your artist first. Scar tissue takes ink differently, and fully healed scars are generally needed before tattooing over them. A good artist will be understanding and discreet.

Before you get one

A tattoo is not treatment. For many people a semicolon tattoo is a powerful reminder, but it works best alongside real support, whether that is therapy, medication, a support group, or trusted people in your life.

Think about your timing. Getting tattooed while you are in a crisis can be overwhelming. Many people find the tattoo means more when it marks a point they have reached, rather than being done in the middle of the storm.

Be ready for questions. The symbol is widely recognised. Some people will ask what it means, and it is fine to share as much or as little as you like.

Find the right artist. A small, simple tattoo still needs clean lines that will not blur, so choose a fine line artist whose healed work you have seen. Our list of tattoo red flags can help, and a small semicolon usually falls at or near a studio's minimum charge, as explained in our guide to how much a tattoo costs.

For more ideas in the same spirit, see our guide to mental health tattoos.

If you or someone you know is struggling: call or text 988 in the US, call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK and Ireland, or contact your local emergency services.

Background on Project Semicolon drawn from the organisation's own description of its mission and from published reporting on its founder, Amy Bleuel.