Meet the Co Antrim tattoo artist who is using his position to do good and reach out to those who have suffered from mental health problems.
Sam McAleese from Ballymena is the owner of Coven Tattoo in the town and is offering free cover-up tattoos to people who have been left with scars after self-harming.
With ten years of experience under his belt, the 27-year-old said being able to do what he can for an issue "close to his heart" is an honour that he is fortunate enough to be able to do.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, Sam explained how his passion for the career started when he was only a child - watching in awe as his mother would show off her new tattoos.
Sam said: "I have always been quite arty so whenever she was coming home with these tattoos I thought that I wanted to be the person that does that.
"It got started quite early - I remember watching shows like 'Miami Ink' and that is what got me massively into it so even when I was in high school, the whole way through I knew what I wanted to be and nothing was changing that.
"It's always what I wanted to do and that was that."
After leaving school, Sam quickly got an apprenticeship with a friend who had just opened their business - putting his foot in the door for a successful tattooist career from an early age.
Over the decade he has been in the industry, Sam is "very proud" that he has been able to learn how to execute many different styles of tattoos and can offer something for everyone.
After opening his own shop only three short months ago, he decided to offer up free tattoos to people with self-harm scars, using his own time, money and resources to benefit people going through a tough time.
"I know how much this can impact someone's life so I wanted to help in any way I could in this process of their healing and giving people more confidence.
"I am fortunate enough to be able to offer the free service. It is honestly something close to my heart and I've wanted to do it for so long and now I am in the position to be able to do so.
"I know how special this can be for people," he explained.
Sam revealed that a number of local businesses in the area have gotten behind his initiative and offered donations to help facilitate and fund as many cover-up tattoos as possible.
He added: "The support in Ballymena is honestly second to none - you won't get people like this anywhere else.
"People here also want to help and are all for it and it is great too."
He explained that he has had a lot of people get in contact since announcing the cover-up service and that he will do his best to be this support to anyone in need - however long it may take.
"I have been inundated with messages which is quite heartbreaking to be honest that so many people have had to go through that but I am just trying to help anybody and everybody I can," he said.
"There is a waiting list because there are so many people to help but until I am tattooing no more, I am going to be helping these people."
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