September is Suicide Prevention Month and nine Denver-area tattoo studios are helping to raise awareness with a special all-day tattooing event. The studios are participating in the inaugural Hope;Ink event to support Jefferson Center — a community mental health nonprofit.
Tattoos can be a natural place to start a conversation, Emily Raykovitz, manager of adult outpatient services at Jefferson Center, said.
Denver7 “They honor people that we love, they honor momentous life occasions. and for that reason, tattoo studios are kind of a vulnerable place,” Raykovitz said.
This is the first year Hope;Ink will participate in the event, but Jefferson Center has previously partnered with Dreambent Studios owner Eddie Mijares for several years on semicolon tattoo events. Tattoo artist and Fallen Owl studio owner Adam Rose said the semicolon tattoo has long been associated with suicide and mental health support.
Denver7 “What I was always told is that it’s a moment to pause, and somebody just told me, it’s not only a moment to pause, but it’s also to pause and think about the future moving forward,” Rose said.