The moving yet 'confronting' reason trees are turning blue in Australia
The charity group behind the blue trees wants to help change 'outdated attitudes' when it comes to talking about, and treating, mental health.
It's not a sight you expect to see but trees are turning blue all over the country. In fact, more than a thousand now have the eye-catching appearance.
If you've seen such a thing and wondered why, you're not alone.
"We were driving one afternoon when we spotted a blue tree," a Canberra woman wrote recently in a Facebook group for bird enthusiasts. It prompted her to Google the phenomenon, but was taken aback by the "overwhelming" negativity others in the group expressed about the peculiar trend.
"The blue tree stuff is nonsense, it's environmental vandalism ... Completely ruins the natural beauty of an area too. A ridiculous trend," one person chided.
"It completely screws the ability for insects to use and camouflage on the wood," another claimed.
What the woman ultimately learned, as she tried to appease the critics, was the fact the blue trees are a symbol spread by an Australian charity in a bid to promote awareness and conversations about mental health. The person behind the Blue Tree Project, CEO Kendall Whyte, started the organisation a year after losing her brother to suicide in 2018.
"Like many initiatives there will always be people who don't connect with our cause and mission," she told Yahoo News Australia. "However, the support over the last six years has been overwhelmingly positive."
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Pointing to the fact that suicide is the leading cause of death in Australians aged 15-49, as recorded by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the charity seeks to end the social stigma of mental health issues and holds workshops with corporate partners designed to better equip Australian workers to confront the difficult issue.
"Outdated attitudes are still deeply ingrained across Australia, which is preventing many from seeking support," Kendall said.
"Education is crucial, not only in shifting old attitudes, but also up-skilling ourselves to have the harder and more confronting conversations in life."
The idea of painting trees stems from a practical joke her late brother once played by painting a tree on the family's West Australian property to surprise their father.
The group now has 1,318 registered blue trees – which are exclusively dead trees known as stags – mostly dotted around WA and other Aussie states.
"There is now a blue tree on every continent of the world – making us a global movement," Kendall told Yahoo.
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The organisation promotes the importance of funding for preventative measures to help bring down the rate of suicide in the country.
"Often we don't realise how important our overall well being is, until it's too late, and significant support is needed to get back on track," Kendall said.
Christmas can be 'difficult' time for many Aussies
With Aussies gearing up for the festive season, the public is being reminded to check in with friends and loved ones as Christmas can sometimes be a difficult time for those struggling with their mental health.
"Particularly those who are struggling, or who are isolated, or are in conflict with their family and others, it's often a really difficult time," Professor Ian Hickie, the Co-Director of the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney previously told Yahoo News.
"The health care system goes on holiday and many of the people who provide them with support, those services, are reduced to emergency services.
"Many people who need support, get less support during that period, and the period in which they're often feeling more isolated and have more difficulties."
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
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