Selena Gomez has a new tattoo and there is a beautiful meaning behind the symbol.

The singer has been involved in producing the Netflix series13 Reasons Why,which tells the story of a girl, Hannah, who dies by suicide and leaves 13 tapes, explaining her reasons, to different people.

Gomez and the show’s cast members Alisha Boe and Tommy Dorfman all received matching tattoos – semicolons on the side of their wrists.

Dorfman, a 24-year-old actor, writer, and producer originally from Atlanta, shared an image of the tattoos to his Instagram, alongside an explanation of their meaning.

“The ; symbol stands for an end of one thought and a beginning of another,” he wrote.

13 Reasons Why – the new Netflix show you have to watch. Post continues below.

“Instead of a period, authors use the semicolon to continue a sentence. For us, it means a beginning of another chapter in life, in lieu of ending your life.”

The tattoo is the symbol of Project Semicolon, a movement started by Amy Bleuel in 2013 after her father lost his life to suicide.

The non-profit is dedicated to supporting people dealing with depression, anxiety, self-harm, and other forms of mental illness.

The message of the symbol is simple: “A semicolon represents a sentence the author could have ended, but chose not to. That author is you and the sentence is your life.”

According to the website, it’s about raising awareness, “continuing stories, and to be an inspiration to those who are struggling”.

“By writing a semicolon on your wrist, you are making a promise to yourself that it is ok to reach out and seek for help… stand up for you or anyone you know who has depression, anxiety, has self harmed or has contemplated suicide and help our peers, our friends and our family know that we speak up for them and that we stand up against Mental Health and the stigma that’s attached to it.”

In a cruel twist, Amy Bleuel recently died by suicide on Thursday, March 23 at the age of 31.

Dorfman acknowledged Bleuel’s recent passing in his Instagram post. He also spoke about his personal struggle with depression, admitting he didn’t expect to live beyond 21.

Listen: The story behind the semicolon tattoo movement. (Post continues after audio.)

“I struggled with addiction and depression issues through high school and early college,” he said.

“At the time, I thought my life was over, I thought I’d never live past the age of 21.

“Today I’m grateful to be alive, in this new chapter of life in recovery, standing with my colleagues and friends, making art that helps other people.”

If you, or a young person you know, is struggling with symptoms of mental illness please contact your local headspace centre here or chat to them online, here. If you are over the age of 25 and suffering from symptoms of mental illness please contact your local GP for a Mental Health Assessment Plan or call Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.