Tattoos can transform – but in a way that goes far beyond body art. Explore the lives of people who use tattoos for mental health and medical reasons. The compelling documentary introduces self-harm and suicide survivors who use ink to cover their scars, a breast cancer patient who got tattoos to make reconstruction look more realistic and a veteran hoping to hide the wounds of war.

Special thanks to the tattoo artists who appeared in Ink & Image:

Rachel Schinosi - Cosmetic Solutions
Josh Delay - DLay'n Ink Tattoos
Matt Macri - Black Cat Tattoos
Shalaman

Resources

See Brightness: A Blog on Hope and Mental Health​
National Alliance on Mental Illness - Risk of Suicide
National Institute on Mental Health - Suicide Prevention
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
The Trevor Project - Suicide Prevention
National Alliance on Mental Illness - Self-Harm
Mental Health America - Self-Injury (Cutting, Self-harm, or Self-mutilation)
American Academy of Micropigmentation
Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals - Cosmetic Tattooing
Learn more about the importance of an International Board of Medicine and Surgery (IBMS) certification for tattoo artists
Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals - Information for the public
Aesthetics Journal - Case Study: Concealing Scars [with tattoos]
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery - Decorative tattooing for scar camouflage: Patient innovation
Lifeline for Vets - What Statistics Show About Veteran Substance Abuse and Why Proper Treatment is Important
US Department of Veterans Affairs - Suicide Risk and Risk of Death Among Recent Veterans
US Department of Veterans Affairs - PTSD and Substance Abuse in Veterans
Substances Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – Veterans and Military Families

Relevant Articles

How to Pick a Safe Tattoo Shop
Huffington Post – Sorry Mom: Getting Lots of Tattoos Could Have a Surprising Health Benefit
University of Michigan - Body Art: What You Need to Know before Getting a Tattoo or Piercing
US Food & Drug Administration - Think Before You Ink: Are Tattoos Safe?
Science News for Students - Tattoos: The Good, the Bad, and the Bumpy