Members of the society have been urged to tolerate and not discriminate people with tattoos.
A psychologist with the University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Gloria Amadi made this call in an interview with newsmen.
Dr. Amadi who said wearing tattoo is not an unlawful act enumerated the reasons people opt for body art to include the desire to be different and popular among peers.
“Those who want to boost their self- esteem go for it. They do it to also gain psychological gratifications. There is a satisfaction that comes when you express yourself that way by having marks on your body.
Then there is this impulsive drive because it is happening, everybody is doing it, people who are celebrated are also doing it.
So that drive can lure a person who is looking up to a celebrity because they want to cope with a trauma and mental health issues they already have. Another reason is that some of them want to gain social acceptance in some quarters,” she emphasised.
She stated the demerits of tattoos such as rejection, segregation, and misconception by others.
Dr. Amadi admonished those living with the trauma of having tattoos on their bodies to seek help from mental health personnel to cope with the challenges.
“Yes those who cannot cope by themselves and cannot overcome the stress and trauma associated with it should consult mental health experts to talk them out of self condemnation. So they need that counsel intervention and mental health training to cope,” she noted.
The psychologist called for orientation among the youths on the issues associating with tattoos to put them through its consequences.
