Tattoos: Mikey's Story

Tattoos are body art that often represent deeply personal meanings for people. They serve as reminders and tributes, and even play roles in mental health maintenance or recovery. The semi-colon tattoo and related butterfly, heart, and cross versions, among many others, for example, symbolize strength and rebirth in the face of depression, suicide, and other mental health issues. Just as a semi-colon is used in punctuation when a sentence could have ended, but did not, a semi-colon tattoo represents when a life could have ended, but did not. Tattoos can be used to cover up scars from suicide attempts and even as alternatives to self-harm behaviors. Certified Deaf Interpreter Mikey shares his story about tattoos and offers advice on how to ask people about their tattoos. Transcript in comment section below. #tattoosformentalhealth #deaftattoos #tattoos

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Transcript: [id: Mikey is sitting in front of a dark background, signing his story. Tattoo sleeves are visible on both of his forearms. He has a long, full red and grey beard and is wearing glasses.] Hi, my name is Mikey Krajnak (shows sign name which is an X-hand shape). I’ve been a CDI, a Certified Deaf interpreter, for the last 10 years. When I sign, you can see that I have tattoos on my forearms, which may make you wonder how an interpreter can have tattoos like this. People do ask me why and some even say that interpreting and tattoos don’t go together. Hold on - don’t assume that I am clueless about this. I already knew that having tattoos meant that changes would need to happen, such as no more short-sleeved shirts, only long-sleeved ones. When I interpret, I wear long-sleeved, dark, button-down cotton shirts. On hot days, I wear a cotton t-shirt underneath, a trick that I am grateful to have learned from my grandfather and which keeps me cool. You can try that. Sometimes if it is too hot for a long-sleeved shirt, I wear special sleeves that are similar to pantyhose and either black or flesh-colored. They fit snugly and cover the full arm, from the wrist all the way up to the top near the shoulder. I can sign easily and then remove the sleeves when I am done interpreting. So, you might be wondering why I have tattoos on my arms. Just like some people dye their hair, some people have beards or mustaches, and some people have certain fashion tastes, tattoos are something I enjoy and are part of my preferred lifestyle. The reason I have tattoos is for me. They tell my stories and my mental health. If I’m facing a challenging situation, I look at them, especially this one right here, which has a special message (points to inside of right forearm). They represent personal stories and are my mantras. These are the tattoos I have (shows tattoos on both arms, lifting them and pointing) - there are none here (points to inside of left arm) but will be soon, and also on my leg. You notice that there are no tattoos on my face or neck, and none above my collarbone or on my hands. The reason for this is communication access. Today, tattoos are a really important part of our lives. They tell stories and lessons. They are symbols of pride. When you approach someone who has tattoos, some words of caution - always be polite, please. Don’t ask, “Why do you have tattoos???” Instead, ask, “I noticed your tattoos. What is the story behind them?” You’ll be amazed to hear the intriguing stories people tell. There have been times when I’ve met people whose tattoos may have initially caused me to wonder about their judgment, but I kept my reservations to myself. Instead of making a comment, I asked about the story behind their tattoos. I’ve heard powerful, jaw-dropping stories that changed my initial judgment. It’s so important to listen to the stories. Thank you for watching. Disclaimer: The videos featured by Deaf Counseling Center (DCC) are contributed on a purely voluntary basis by community members. DCC is not responsible for the content or accuracy of the videos. Our sharing the video does not imply our view or endorsement. Deaf Counseling Center - www.deafcounseling.com