Local tattoo shop raising funds throughout May for Mental Health initiatives

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Those looking to get ink in May can catch a break on the cost of one, while giving another break to those in need of mental health support.

Soulfire Tattoo Studio in Fort St. John will hold a flash tattoo sale in late May, with proceeds going toward the Inclusion Collective project, which is a monthly donation initiative supporting FSJACL programs like Saplings mental health services and Thrive.

Previously a privately-funded initiative, the Saplings program was brought under the umbrella of the Fort St. John Association for Community Living (FSJACL) last fall, according to the organization’s stewardship manager, Jared Braun.

It aims to “meet the mental health needs of the next generation at the community level,” and works with children and youth in almost every capacity, according to its website.

Meanwhile, Thrive is a newly-instituted program from FSJACL in which members can get access to programs they previously had barriers in obtaining, such as counselling services and therapeutic recreation.

“As a non-profit, we are always looking to support the individuals that we’re connected with,” said Braun. “To give them the ability to get access to supports that they might not otherwise have access to.”

“I have quite a number of colleagues here at the association who have tattoos, and they are and lots of friends and so on, and they talk about ink therapy…I think one thing is when you’re getting a tattoo, it’s a committed amount of time. Depending on the size of the tattoo, you are just present. You are just there in that one place, doing one specific thing, which is often contradictory to how we operate in the world today.”

From May 22nd to May 24th, the studio on 10104 100th Street will have artist Cody Morin and another artist providing flash tattoos, which are pre-drawn designs which are ready-to-draw on clients.

A portion of every flash tattoo done at the shop during that weekend will go toward the programs. 

Though tattoos can carry negative connotation, they also carry a positive affiliation related to mental health.

A University of Saskatchewan study from 2021 suggests psychologists who have visibly recognizable provocative tattoos “seem more confident, interesting, likable, less lazy, and more competent” compared to counterparts with less provocative inkwork or no tattoos at all.

Morin from Soulfire Tattoo Studio said the idea to donate money came from an apprentice. 

“Mental health is something that affects everybody a little bit,” Morin told Energeticcity.ca. “What we do here with art and tattooing, it’s a really good outlet that promotes positive mental health.”

Morin says the logistics of what the studio’s contribution will look like is still being worked out, but money will be donated to the FSJACL.

The Flash Tattoo sale for mental health initiatives will take place on May 22nd to 24th at Soulfire Tattoo Studio in Fort St. John.