Deakin University has joined an Australian-born global movement promoting awareness of and support for mental health.
The university officially unveiled [number] trees painted blue at its Waurn Ponds campus as part of the Blue Tree Project on Tuesday, October 1, aligning with the start of Mental Health Month.
The Blue Tree Project was founded by 2022 Young Australian of the Year Kendall Whyte after the loss of her brother Jayden to suicide in 2018.
Originally begun as a social movement, the Blue Tree Project has flourished, becoming a registered charity focused on developing events, initiatives and programs to educate the community on the importance of mental health.
Executive director of Student Services Rebecca Bone said the Blue Tree Project acknowledged increasing levels of mental ill health, isolation and loneliness, not just within Deakin’s community of students and staff, but the wider community more generally.
“Blue trees are now dotted all over the globe as visual reminders that we are not alone in our struggles, and that we all need to reach out to those around us and start important conversations about mental health,” Ms Bone said.
“The trees we have used at the Waurn Ponds campus had died of natural causes and we thought joining the Blue Tree Project would be a great way to encourage people to start a conversation as well as a visual reminder for people to speak up about mental health difficulties.
“This initiative supports Deakin’s Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Student Health Promotion Plan and overall commitment to staff health, safety and wellbeing.”
