The important meaning behind new blue tree

LAKE Neangar now has a new, blue feature on its shores with a lot of meaning behind it. 

Members of Suicide Prevention Awareness Network Central Victoria have painted an old tree trunk as part of the Blue Tree Project.  

The initiative started in Western Australia in 2018 to create awareness and discussion around mental health and help people access support. 

There now are blue trees across the nation and overseas. 

Alannah McGregor, who founded SPAN Central Victoria in 2011, lost a son and a daughter to suicide 21 years ago. 

She said the organisation wanted to use some funding to do something big in the community. 

“Twenty years ago, it was something that was really taboo to talk about, and I believe that by sharing my story its able to help people open up about their problems or families,” said Ms McGregor. 

“I decided that it was something that needed to be brought out into the open.” 

Ms McGregor said she and her husband were riding bikes one day when they saw the tree and thought it would be perfect for the Blue Tree Project. 

“The idea is to raise awareness, to sit down, reflect, and chat with somebody else about how you’re going,” she said. 

SPAN Central Victoria’s committee is made of people from Bendigo Health’s Hospital Outreach Post-suicidal Engagement program, headspace, Bendigo Community Health Services, Victoria Police, and others. 

Rebecca Dowling is a senior clinician with the HOPE program said talking about mental health is important and initiatives like the Blue Tree Project help. 

“Just normalising the conversation on mental health, it’s something that we all experience.” she said.  

“These sorts of initiatives that are a visual representation for people being able to see and initiate that conversation are fabulous.” 

Ms Dowling said there are lots of services there to support people and many that people probably don’t know about, like the HOPE program. 

“If people have a friend or a family member that they feel comfortable reaching out to that’s always something that’s really accessible for people,” she said. 

“Otherwise, a GP is a really good entry point to be able to access a range of different services and get some kind of immediate help.” 

If you or someone you know needs mental health support, visit beyondblue.org.au or call their 24/7 hotline on 1300 22 4636. You can also visit lifeline.org.au or call them on 13 11 14 and help for young people is available at kidshelpline.com.au or by calling them on 1800 55 1800.