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Art on the Skin, Lifesaving Within: How Tattoo Artists Can Play a Role in Overcoming Trauma and Suicide Prevention

The inked designs that adorn many bodies today are more than just art; they often tell profound personal stories. As tattoo culture becomes increasingly mainstream, a novel idea is emerging from recent research: tattoo artists can play a significant role in suicide prevention.

A groundbreaking study led by Sara A. Kohlbeck, PhD, MPH, assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, director of the Comprehensive Injury Center’s Division of Suicide Research and Health, and Dr. and Mrs. Michael C. Kubly Community-Based Suicide Prevention Research Professorship at the �ʼһ��� (MCW), explores the potential for tattoo shops to become spaces of mental health support and intervention.

The Hidden Risk

Suicide is a growing public health concern that impacts various populations differently. Individuals with tattoos, particularly young women, have been identified as having an increased risk of suicide. Previous studies have found that females aged 12-22 with tattoos are at higher risk, and college-aged women with multiple tattoos are four times more likely to attempt suicide compared to those with fewer or no tattoos. This association calls for deeper exploration into how tattoo environments can address mental health challenges.

Tattoo Artists on the Front Lines

The research aimed to assess the feasibility and interest in providing suicide prevention education to tattoo artists.

Tattoo artists often spend hours with their clients, building a rapport that can lead to intimate conversations. According to the study, a significant number of tattoo artists have encountered clients expressing mental health issues or suicidal thoughts. A survey conducted with 79 tattoo artists revealed that most had at least one experience where a client’s mental health made them concerned. This suggests that tattoo shops could serve as crucial points for mental health interventions.

“As someone who collects tattoos and has lived with mental health challenges, I found myself opening up to my artist about our respective struggles,” says Dr. Kohlbeck. “It made me wonder if this was a common experience and if tattoo artists might be uniquely positioned to help.”

Building on a Proven Model

The concept draws inspiration from the barbershop model, where barbers and beauticians in Black communities have been trained to provide health education and promote healthy practices, such as HIV prevention and cancer awareness. This model has been successful due to the trusted relationships between barbers and their clients, which is like the trust built between tattoo artists and their clients.

Previous initiatives have already seen tattoo artists trained to recognize skin cancer indicators and identify tattoos related to sex trafficking. These efforts demonstrate that with proper training, tattoo artists could effectively engage in suicide prevention.

This innovative approach aligns with broader community health initiatives championed by MCW, which has been at the forefront of enhancing healthcare access and addressing public health challenges through community partnerships. The institution’s efforts include collaborations with local organizations to support underserved populations, ensuring that health interventions are culturally sensitive and widely accessible.

Empowering Tattoo Artists

Despite the promising findings, Dr. Kohlbeck emphasizes that this study is just the beginning.

“Most artists felt comfortable having conversations about mental health, but they weren’t sure how to start them or what steps to take if a situation escalated,” she says. “This highlights the need for targeted training.”

The researchers hope to expand their work by providing mental health training to tattoo artists and then following up to see how these skills are used in practice.

“We would love to do a larger study where we actually do some mental health type training for tattoo artists and then follow them over time to see if they’re using any of those skills in the work setting,” Dr. Kohlbeck says.

If researchers are successful in equipping tattoo artists with the necessary tools and training, tattoo shops could become safe spaces for mental health support, extending the reach of community health initiatives spearheaded by MCW. This research not only highlights the versatility of tattoo artists but also opens new avenues for innovative public health strategies.