
They’re on our minds, hearts, souls.they tell a story that goes a lot deeper than the image itself."

"We have scars, but our scars aren’t on our bodies. " For those of us with invisible illnesses and battles we fight in the confines of our own minds, the tattoos are very important," he says.

Gavin has five tattoos, four of which are inspired by his mental health struggles. Although he initially failed out of high school, he ultimately went back to school, obtaining a master's degree in English and becoming a teacher. Gavin has struggled with depression since he was very young, which he attributes in part to a childhood marked by physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as racism. These are their tattoos - and the powerful stories behind them. asked 8 guys to share the tattoos inspired by their personal struggles. But for many men, their ink is inspired by something extremely personal: their struggles with mental illness.įrom the semicolon tattoo popularized by the anti-suicide campaign Project Semicolon to the green ribbon that symbolizes mental health awareness, tattoos inspired by mental health struggles don't just serve as constant reminders about men's struggles - they're also a badge of honor, reminding guys to march forward and conquer any obstacle in life.

Tattoos can be inspired by any number of things: a favorite band, a childhood memory, a former girlfriend. Share your own moment of #HowIGotHelp and let your voice inspire other men.
#Suffer in silence tattoo series#
Our Healthy Mind, Healthy Body series shines a light on mental health issues that everyone should be talking about. For too long, men have been silent about mental health and it’s literally killing us.
