Why are people painting dead trees blue?

Wednesday, 19 June, 2019

Have you seen a blue tree?

Driving back from a stunningly beautiful, sunny, winter weekend in the South-West of Western Australia a few weeks ago, I noticed this big blue tree in a paddock on the side of the road.

It was the second blue tree I saw that weekend, having never seen one before.

Blue Tree Project

By the coincidence of strange synchronicities, it was only during the previous week I had read about a striking new mental health awareness campaign; The Blue Tree Project.

The Blue Tree Project aims to encourage people to start difficult conversations about mental health and open up if they are suffering from depression or anxiety.

The project started in the tiny West Australian farming community of Mukinbudin.

The founders of the Blue Tree Project, hope that through spreading the blue paint, it helps spread the message ...

It's Ok to feel blue ... It's Ok to not be OK

Awareness, prevention and early intervention are extremely important to reduce stigma and promote positive mental health.

The project organisers are hoping the Blue Tree Project continues to encourage individuals and communities to get talking, seek resources and become more educated on mental health and suicide prevention.”

The Story Behind the Blue Trees

In 2014, farmer Jayden Whyte and his friend painted a dead tree at his family’s Mukinbudin farm the colour blue.

The friends had been asked by Jayden's dad to clean out one of the farm sheds, but the half-empty tins of blue paint were just too irresistible to send to waste.

So, under the cover of darkness Jayden and Tjarda found a dead tree in a secluded area of the farm and spent a couple of sleepless nights painting the entire tree. It was not until a couple of years later Jayden’s dad stumbled across the tree in the back paddock.

Tragically, in November 2018, Jayden died by suicide.

The funny story of the blue tree was shared at Jayden’s funeral by Tjarda Tiedeken, the friend who joined him in painting the initial blue tree.

Social Media Inspires Others to Join the Campaign

A few weeks after Jayden's death, on Christmas Eve, Jayden’s best mate, Simon Comerford, along with his cousin Jared Beagley, began painting a 15-metre dead tree bright blue on Simon’s father’s property at Mukinbudin, in honour of Jayden.

In the scorching heat, it took the two men about two days over two weeks to turn another old dead tree into a symbol of hope, love, strength and a colourful reminder of their friend, Jayden.

After posting a photo of the tree on Facebook, it soon went viral, prompting the birth of the Blue Tree Project to help raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.

The project is being coordinated by Simon and his sister Anthea and Jayden’s sisters Kendall and Erryn.

The blue trees are a visual reminder to stand strong like a tree and branch or reach out to someone for help.

“It is our hope these striking blue trees act as conversation starters; where seeing a blue tree will prompt people to talk to those around them about their own feelings and mental health, and remind someone it’s alright to feel “blue” once in a while.

It is hoped that ultimately blue trees peppered across the land will help save lives,

Since Simon painted his tree and posted on social media, the initiative has gained traction across the State, country and even overseas.

This is the second of the two blue trees I saw on my weekend down south. I expect to see a lot more in the coming years.

Mental Health Awareness

How to get involved

To get involved in the project, consider painting a dead tree blue on your private property with environmentally friendly paint or chalk, or wrapping the tree in hessian, woollen knits, or having a blue tree painting or organising something similar in your community.

For more information about the Blue Tree Project, visit https://www.bluetreeproject.com.au

Or, follow them on Facebook.

Read: The story of the 'Original Blue Tree' retold... By Tjarda Tiedeken

Visit the map of Blue Trees

Seeking help for you or someone else

According to Beyond Blue, men were three times more likely than women to die by suicide during 2016-17.

In 2007 the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing found that only 27.5 per cent of men with a mental disorder had accessed services.

If you feel you might be experiencing depression or anxiety, there are some symptoms that can be detectable.

You may start to notice physical symptoms, which include regularly feeling tired, even after a solid night of sleep and fluctuations in weight or skin irritations. Emotional symptoms may be things like feeling more angry or irritable, rather than feeling low, although it is very common to feel overwhelmed and have ongoing periods of sadness.

Another sign may be losing interest in things you normally enjoy. Perhaps your sex drive has diminished, or you no longer enjoy activities such as going out with friends, sports, or gardening.

If you are concerned about someone or feel they are at risk of suicide, call triple-0.

If you or someone you know need help, call;