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Whether directly or indirectly, mental health challenges have impacted many throughout the Commonwealth. 

In Winchester, a tattoo and piercing shop seeks to provide what they can. 

Through its semicolon tattoo promotion, Inked Under Ground—located at 10 W. Broadway Street—hopes to raise awareness of mental health struggles and achieve positive results. 

“We feel like it’s essential to raise awareness around mental health, anxiety, depression, [and] suicide awareness and prevention,” said co-owner Ren Elam. “It’s something we want to dig in and help our community with.” 

To help do so, the studio is offering semicolon tattoos for $30. 

Typically, a tattoo can cost as much as $80. 

For those who are unfamiliar, Elam clarified what a semicolon tattoo featuring the commonly seen punctuation mark means. 

“It can be a reminder that the wearer has overcome a hardship in their life, such as depression, anxiety, and addiction, and that they choose to carry on,” she said. “It can also be a way to show solidarity with others who face mental health issues or honor someone who has struggled or unfortunately lost their struggle with depression.” 

The effort was inspired by Project Semicolon, a nonprofit organization that was started in 2013 to support people with mental health needs. 

It’s an issue that has personally affected both Elam and co-owner Ashlee Horsley. 

“It’s important to us because people battle with mental health every day,” she said, noting that a close family member had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. “I just think it’s important to reach out to others… it’s a fight.”

Initially, the promotion was supposed to last only into the first few days of August. 

However, community support has been strong, including monetary donations. 

One – unfortunately – was from a woman who’d lost her daughter to suicide. 

As a result, the promotion was extended through Friday, August 17. 

“The number of people that we’ve had come out and show support and love, share their stories, and just be involved in it has overwhelmed us with emotion,” Elam added. “I’ve had several people reach out and say, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry that I missed it. We would have been there. We love this idea,’ that’s why we decided to extend it.” 

Anyone wishing to donate to pay for a semicolon tattoo can stop by the studio directly or contact them at inkedundergroundwinchester@gmail.com or (859) 355 – 5430. 

“We would also like to say ‘thank you’ to the community for their support. We’re humbled and honored by the response that we’ve seen. Not only by the stories we can hear and share but also by the unwavering support that others have offered to strangers in a gesture of kindness that often gets overlooked,” Elam stated. “Mental health is so important, and seeing that someone cares can make all the difference. That small reminder could potentially save someone’s life, and that’s what’s important to us.”

Beneficially, along with extending the business by providing more area soon, Inked Under Ground shows no signs of slowing down its efforts to support the community. 

The entire month of September will be celebrated by providing a 15% discount to community-based service professions, such as first responders, teachers, and social workers.