Marking International Survivors of Suicide Loss Awareness Day (18th November), the UK’s only national peer-to-peer charity dedicated to those impacted by the death of someone by suicide – Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SoBS) – announces the launch of Ink Memorandum.

Recognising that tattoos are an important part of the grieving process – as agreed by over half (59%) of the SoBS network – the charity has partnered with celebrity tattoo artist Rebecca Vincent. Rebecca has designed a commemorative tattoo to represent the experience of being impacted by loss through suicide. Nineteen tattoo studios across the nation, from London to Leeds, have signed up to take part, offering slots to those wanting to remember a loved one through ink.

For many years, the semicolon has been a popular tattoo design, used as a way to visually represent the experience of being affected by suicide and show solidarity, alongside acknowledging other mental health issues such as depression. Although this still resonates with some, almost a third (30%) felt the design wasn’t representative, with 59% agreeing they’d be open to a refreshed take on the design.

The launch comes as part of SoBS wider purpose to increase visibility on support and resources available for those affected by suicide, as over a fifth (22%) of the nation have been impacted by loss in this way and 1 in 4 said they found themselves in a position where they were not able to access support.

Lesley Rose, CEO at SoBS, commented: “Despite so many being impacted by suicide, our research found that over a third (38%) admitted to never seeking help and, of all the types of bereavement, suicide is the one they felt most uncomfortable talking about (37%). This drives our mission, working to support those left behind and provide a vital service to positively impact the lives of those struggling to deal with loss, giving them a safe space to share their experience and express their grief.”

Of those with a commemorative tattoo, 43% shared that they felt comforted by it, as a way of carrying their lost loved one with them wherever they go. Multiple tattoo studios across the UK, including those based in Brighton, London and Leeds have signed up to back the cause, joining SoBS’ mission to raise awareness of the importance of supporting survivors of bereavement by suicide.

Those eligible can choose from the below studios and contact them directly to enquire about bookings for 18th November. While tattoos are free, the public is encouraged to donate what they can via the SoBS website.

Inkin Studioz, London
Matt Stopps Tattoo, London
Ushuaia, London
Three Kings, London
Underground Tattoos, Watford
Underground Tattoos, Stevenage
Underground Tattoos, Endfield
Vaudeville, Sheffield
Semper, Edinburgh
Drawn and Quartered, Canterbury
dead slow, Brighton
Studio Baby, Brighton
Release the Kraken, Brighton
Foxy Ink, Bristol
Karma, Leeds
Namaste Tattoo, Hull
Charlotte Bolton, Sheffield

Those seeking a commemorative tattoo can opt for a date or name of their choosing or be one of the first to have the new design from Rebecca Vincent: a forget-me-not, redesigned as an evolved semicolon. The new visual sees one stem cut short as a signifier of a loved one’s departure, whilst the second botanical sees a stem that has continued to grow, as survivors do over time.

Rebecca Vincent, the tattoo artist, commented: “It’s been a real privilege to be a part of this project, the cause is one that is very close to my heart and so I was honoured to be involved. When it came to rethinking the semi-colon, forget-me-nots felt like a natural choice when exploring a botanical redesign. For me, the semi-colon represents struggle, and forget-me-nots the treasuring of memories and growing beyond grief. This artwork is ultimately a tribute to lost loved ones and a symbol of hope for those bereaved.”

Lesley Rose, added: “Dealing with grief can come in varying forms and, for many, a tattoo is a meaningful way to honour the memory of someone who has passed. We’ve seen this in our community and wanted to acknowledge the 18th of November by offering this opportunity to people across the UK who may resonate with it.”