When you have suicidal thoughts, sometimes you just need a little reminder to move on. That’s why we sometimes turn to tattoos: permanent reminders that we etch into our skin, as proof that we’ve done it before, so we can do it again.
We ask our powerful mental health community to share with us the tattoos they see when they have suicidal thoughts. any feeling that reminds you to move on, hold on to it. you’re important and deserving, and we’re so glad you’re here.
This is what our community shared with us:
1. “I got this last year. the lotus flower blooms in the murkiest waters and reminds me to try to do the same. semicolons to remind me that I’ve kept fighting in the past and will keep going, and infinite hearts to remind me why I keep going (for the people I love).” — maureen h.
related: designer kate spade apparently dies by suicide at 55
2. “I just covered up 15 years of self-harm scars. I still feel like it sometimes and I’m scarred elsewhere, but this tattoo works as a vivid reminder. she knew she wanted a one-handed dagger with a moth in front of it. only later did I look up the meaning and it matched perfectly: “life is not a bed of roses”, a hand holding a dagger that has its tip on my wrist speaks of control and has the most meaning on your face in that place. it’s funny to me how people see this as a beautiful design where my self harm scars look weird and scary. the moth that hides the dagger speaks of change and transformation with a darker touch. I could fly at any moment.” — lyraco t.
related: the barrier that prevents me from talking about my suicidal thoughts
3. “my favorite part of the movie would have to be between ‘dory’ and ‘marlin’. ‘Hello Sr. grumpy gills… when life gets you down, you know what to do? just keep swimming’. it’s a reminder that when I’m down, I just keep swimming through it. there is always light at the end of the tunnel. you just have to hold on a little longer to find it.” — brittany l.
Related: Suicidal people don’t want to die, they just want the pain to stop
4. “another mental health related tattoo on my arms from the song ‘missing you’ by all time low. I met them a few years ago and they told me never to give up. these are lyrics of the song that mean a lot to me, so that I don’t lose my fight”. — abby a.
5. “When I was younger, my nana taught me that orchids take a lot of effort to grow and get to the point where they are pretty enough for society, but she also taught me that it is enough one slip to have to start all over again. I decided this was a perfect metaphor for my mental health, because it takes consistent work to get to a point where I feel like my mental health is in good shape, but one slip will mean I have to start all over again. . , and that’s fine.” — Monica H.
6. “this is inspired by a twenty one pilots song. in the song he says: ‘nobody else is dealing with your demons’. Which means maybe defeating them could be the beginning of your meaning, friend.” the song is called “kitchen sink”. It’s a reminder that my feelings are valid and no one else can tell me otherwise.” — faline b.
7. “I got my semicolon from my mom after I was discharged from the hospital a year ago. I recently got a brave tattoo in my mother’s handwriting. my smiley face is the smiley face my mom used to write on my napkins in my lunchbox at school when she was younger.” — amy h.
8. “my taylor swift tattoo of the lyrics to her song ‘long live’. i started listening to taylor around the same time my mental illness symptoms started showing up 12 years ago years and her music has helped me a lot since I started experiencing it all. I’ve been through a lot with taylor, even suicidal thoughts at times, and this quote is a reminder of how much she helped me and that I need to move on.” — kira m.
9. “I never thought a little tattoo could mean so much to me. I got a semicolon tattooed on my index finger not only as a personal reminder, but also as a conversation starter… our world would be a much more beautiful place if we all loved each other more. We are much more similar than you think. I believe in you. I am grateful to be alive, and I am very grateful that you are alive. You are not alone. you are loved by every particle in this entire universe.” — kara s.
10. “this is a tattoo of my sisters heartbeat and a semicolon. It reminds me to move on and that I will always have someone to lean on. she has the same tattoo but with my heartbeat” — brandy f.
11. “It’s one that reminds me of the best vacation of my life and keeps me determined to go back there with my family.” — paul b.
12. “I got this tattoo after leaving an abusive relationship. It is my reminder that I got over a difficult part of my life and I can do it again.” — lindsay j.
13. “my grandmother’s memorial tattoo. she expected me to live a good life. I can’t let her down. she would probably kick my ass if it was too soon. It reminds me of all the good memories I had with her and that I need to make good memories with my children and my children’s children.” — sasha c.
14. “I finished this yesterday because I’m going through a tough time with my mental health. it’s here to remind me that I can escape, even if it’s only to the park or to the shore, and that there’s a whole universe out there, and that I’m not stuck forever. (This photo was taken right after, so it’s pretty red.)” — abby a.
15. “the greek word ‘tetelstai’ meaning ‘finished’ is a biblical reference from the new testament when jesus was hanging on the cross… his grace is amazing!” — Maria D.
16. “I am always in the maze. we’ll all end up in the middle (whatever that means to you) eventually, even though the path seems to be convoluted. when times are tough, I just have to keep taking steps and a curve will eventually redirect me more and more towards my own center.” — sammy j.
17. “I got this because I had a lot of ups and downs in my life so far. It reminds me that there is only one option when I am feeling suicidal or depressed, and that is to swim or else I will sink. It’s my favorite tattoo I have.” — nathan d.
18. “mine says ‘don’t let muggles get you down’. i’m a huge harry potter fan. the story gets me through the days, so when i have a day i really bad, “don’t let muggles get you down” reminds me not to let things or people get to me. that those things shouldn’t get me down.” — karen p.
19. “my star wars tattoo includes carrie fisher to remind me to keep fighting in those moments of weakness. mental illness is a struggle, but as long as i keep going i will make carrie proud.” — alaure f.
20. “I received this to remind me of where I have been, where I am and where I can still go and how my illness and my thoughts do not define me. the semicolon is there, along with the butterfly and a gray ribbon. i wanted the eyes to show the emotion of having borderline personality disorder (bpd) you can have a sad, crying and happy one. as my thought is black and white, the only color is in the eyes, my eyes. so every day i look down and see this on my arm as a reminder that just because i have bpd and suicidal thoughts i am more than that and i can get over it” — trudy b.
21. “Keep going. I could be having the worst day of my life and then I think about my tattoo and how much it means to me and helps me get through the worst days. — lindsey b.
22. “I am a high school drama teacher. this reminds me that I am doing what I love and that I am a prominent figure in the lives of many of my students. It reminds me that I can help make an impact in their lives.” — heather c.
23. “my tattoo for my children. they are my heart and soul and my reminder that their lives would not be better without me.” — crystal l.
24. “my tattoo is inspired by a teacher i had in high school who realized i was going through a really hard time, so she played me the song ‘this too shall pass ‘ of ok go. that song and that moment when someone recognized my struggles was so important to me that this became my first tattoo of many.” — andrea d.
25. “to remind me of all the books I’ve read where the hero/underdog found the courage to overcome adversity. and my semicolon to remind me to find the strength to see the true ending of my own story. live for my best friend who lost his battle with depression. put a symbol of hope in the same place that was used for pain! to remember to keep turning the pages.” — brittany h.
26. “my tattoo is from ‘alice in wonderland’ with a quote from the book: ‘how do you run away from what you have in your head?’, it reminds me of my status emotional as a teenager and things that I’m still going through, but as an alice, I found the way out and now I can choose to go back and deal with things. — lisa p.
27. “sometimes I have to give in to my mental health problems and sometimes I have to fight them. both are important parts of my mental health battle.” — glenda w.
28. “I designed this myself to remind myself that I am a delicate butterfly with holes in my wings, but I am strong and I built myself mechanical wings to help me glide through life’s storms. too the flames represent me rising from the ashes like a phoenix.” — juniper h.
29. “I recently made myself an olive branch as a reminder to try to extend an olive branch of peace to everyone I know, but also to myself. the location was the most important because he always reaches out for any handshake; but more importantly, as a reminder to myself in bad times. I have struggled with self-harm for over half my life at this point. you’re not going to grab a razor and try to cut without seeing it. tattooing has always been very therapeutic for me. it’s a much safer version of self-mutilation. Since the area I choose to tattoo is not always the best, it will need regular touch-ups. if I feel the need to hurt myself, I can come in to have it touched up and start the healing process all over again. It’s the perfect reminder to be patient with myself, I’m growing up.” — kait r.
30. “my owl. there is an accompanying quote that says “your struggle is not an indication of your failure”. For me, if an owl can fight for food, I can fight to live.” — sara o.
31. “I got this last year and it helped me a lot. It means don’t worry, and it helped me a lot during my childhood.” — elena r.
32. “I got this tattoo when my family moved out of the house I grew up in. it is a symbol of the lake I used to sit by when I was feeling down. now I have it with me always.” — courtney w.
33. “mine is on my forearm and it’s a picture from a spoken word poem called ‘to this day’ by shane koyzcan. the quote that goes with this is: “you built a cast around your broken heart and you signed it yourself you signed it they were wrong.” this quote got me through some of my darkest times and seeing it everyday reminds me how far i’ve come and how hard i’ll work for not go back to that place.” — shannon d.
34. “hamlet’s soliloquy ‘to be or not to be’ was always a speech that fascinated me, and I loved the idea of the pun of putting ‘two bees’ in a tattoo. I haven’t dealt with suicidal thoughts in several years thanks to a lot of great therapy, but I got this tattoo two years ago to always remind myself to ‘be’ and acknowledge my own strength to keep going.” — ashely c.
35. “this is a phrase taken from my favorite game, undertale. in the game, when you die in battle, a voice speaks to you and says something like “you can’t stop now, we need you”. stay determined,’ and it puts you back in the battle. stayed with me no matter how bad I feel, they need me, I can do this and I have to move on. it’s on my arm where I can see it at all times.” — kayla c.
36. “I designed this when my best friend passed away in fifth grade. every time i look at him, he reminds me that no matter how much shit they put you through, you always have a reason to keep going. dennis always looked at the dire situations in his life and decided to see his glass as half full instead of empty. he is my rock, my motivation.” — morgan m.
37. “I got this after going through two really bad breakups. I have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). this is the chemical compound of serotonin, the ‘happy chemical’. when I look at it, it reminds me that all I want in life is to be happy.” — amanda c.
38. “When I am discouraged, I support my forehead with my left hand. now, i can see ‘no small dreams’ to remind me to dream big, even when it’s hard.” — tricia l.
39. “my dog’s paw print on my foot. when I feel down and feel like everyone would be better off without me, it’s a great reminder that they still need me. She gives me something to live for when I feel like I have nothing else. it’s made to look like she stepped in the mud and then stopped on my foot as we walked together. she is my best friend and she never feels lonely when she is with me”. — sara a.
40. “I wanted this on my body since I was a teenager. this is the viking symbol of ‘where there is a will, there is a way’. Even though I can’t see it on the back of my neck, I know it’s there.” — casey d.
41. “I needed something to remind me that everything is going to be okay. my safe place is in the mountains with pine trees. I come alive when I’m in areas like these. It reminds me to take a breath and imagine the wind blowing through the pine needles.” — creek d.
42. “it symbolizes how I need to go through life, enjoying the little things, instead of giving in to my pessimistic thoughts” — aidan f.
43. “This helps me remember that I am strong: a diamond that will never break and that shines rainbow lights on my good morning. and when it breaks down, it turns into graphite, which reminds me of writing.” — alison t.
44. “I received this after being told I needed more surgery again, after having major surgery. aid. because despite the surgeries and the demons and the things that life throws at me; life is still so damn beautiful and always worth fighting for.” — jasmine o.
45. “When I’m struggling with anxiety and feel overwhelmed, I often self-harm. I got this tattoo to remind me to step back and breathe. I use the triangle shape as a guideline for breathing, so I breathe in one line, hold one line, and breathe out one line. a triangle is also the strongest shape and it reminds me that I can be strong.” — ayme o.
46. “I got the tattoo right after I got out of the psych ward. the flowers represent the emotional mind, the geometric shapes the logical mind, and together they form the wise mind. It reminds me to make better decisions and it reminds me that I survived.” — lisa p.
47. “a quote (in my own handwriting) on my cutting arm. When I was in rehab, one of the nurses used to tell me this almost every day. she reminds me that even the little things count for a brighter tomorrow.” — anna a.
48. “I went through one of my most painful breakups and it almost killed me. I got this tattoo to remind myself that no matter what happens, I will remain intact and grow my wings to fly.” — david m.
49. “‘bàs no beatha’ (death or life); It’s Scottish Gaelic from my mother’s coat of arms. It reminds me, as someone who struggles with Bipolar II, that I have a choice every day. It hasn’t failed me yet.” — chris s.
50. “means ‘new beginnings.’ I’ve been through a lot in my life. I have been resilient dealing with an abusive marriage, divorce, raised two children who are the reason I am still here. anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder”. — jennifer c.
read more stories like this about the powerful:
4 well-intentioned quotes in response to suicidal thoughts that are anything but helpful
When your mental health treatment team breaks your trust
the song from the 80s that saved my life when I was suicidal
