The Semicolon Project

So a lot of people have been wondering what the semicolon tattoo on my wrist means or what it represents (the image from my first post, but don’t stress I will repost the image here again too if you didn’t get to see it)?

The semicolon project was started by Amy Bleuel in 2013, as a tribute to her father who committed suicide in 2003. She has since grown the project semicolon into an American mental health non-profit organization that primarily functions as an anti-suicide initiative.

The project aims to present LOVE and HOPE to those that are struggling with depression, suicide, addiction or self harming. The tattoo was encouraged by the project, to create awareness and to form a sense of unity for people dealing with a mental illness or to commemorate a loved one that has passed from suicide.

The semicolon project, is a symbol to represent that life goes on. An author or writer will choose to use a semicolon instead of a full stop to carry on with his sentence. So in the same way, the semicolon represents life, that we choose to live life on and not to end it now.

I personally have the symbol to remind myself, and to remind people around me who see it, that yes, even though times can be tough, we need to have the courage to continue through, and not put a “full stop” on life.

To read more about the semicolon project, please feel free to visit their site:

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Please feel free to follow my blog, and spread the word, because the more we get talking about mental illnesses, the more chances we have of smashing this stigma.

I also would like to dedicate this blog to my father-in-law (my husbands father – Johnny Johnson) who unfortunately never reached out before taking his own life a few years ago. He will forever be remembered as the smiling, joking and life of the party; yet non of us knew what anguish or pain he must have been suffering inside….if only he spoke out.

If anyone reading my blog is in a dark place remember there are facilities to assist you. You can start by contacting the South African Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0800 12 13 14.

This is me signing off…….and remember guys let’s get talking!