Hospital gives tree a ‘blue lease on life’, joining positive mental health campaign

Fielding calls about feel-good stories is a wonderful way to start the new year at a community newspaper.

The Courier loves an uplifting yarn, so it has been thrilling to receive multiple reports of blue tree sightings across the district as community members join the campaign to kick the stigma around mental health, one blue tree at a time.

A recent edition featured a story about staff based at the Australian Cotton Research Institute backing the Blue Tree Project by painting a dead tree near the Kamilaroi Highway blue, so it can be a living reminder that ‘no matter how isolated you feel, you are not alone’.

The powerful project is proving to be a successful mental health initiative worldwide; locally, it has been embraced from Burren Junction to Boggabri, with blue trees standing tall across the North West countryside.

The blue trees are dotted in different locations, but the mission behind every tree is the same – to start a conversation about mental health and encourage people to feel comfortable enough to speak up and seek help.

Residents and visitors driving or walking by a blue tree might be gently reminded to be kinder to themselves, to be more considerate of others, or ponder ways to break down barriers and stop the unnecessary shame that is often associated with ill-mental health.

In recent years, Wee Waa has embraced the campaign with local residents Dennis Lowder and Bruce Gray, putting brush to bark and spreading blue paint on a tree near the town’s sporting complex to help spread the meaningful message that ‘it’s okay not to be okay’.

And now, in more good news, the town’s dedicated healthcare workers have shown they have their fingers on the pulse when it comes to different ways of raising mental health awareness in the bush, with hospital employees banding together to paint a tree bright blue.

Administration officer Mary Jones and maintenance manager Noel Woodyard led the charge to give a dead tree in the hospital’s front garden what they call a ‘blue lease on life’.

“We recognise that prevention is better than cure, and we are passionate about increasing mental health awareness throughout our community to encourage others to speak up and decrease the devastating side-effects of mental illness,” stated Ms Jones and Mr Woodyard in a letter proposing Wee Waa hospital adopt a staff wellbeing project and join the blue tree movement.

“We can help create a mentally healthy future for all Australians and break down the stigma that’s still largely attached to mental health.

“The Blue Tree Project is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to help spark difficult conversations and encourage people to speak up when battling mental health concerns.”

Ms Jones and Mr Woodyard’s proposal letter referenced Australian Institute of Health and Welfare statistics and said ‘approximately 45 per cent of Australians aged 16-85 years old will experience mental health illness throughout their life’.

Wee Waa health service manager Yve Connett was impressed with Ms Jones and Mr Woodyard’s proposal and she gave them the green light to register the hospital’s tree with the Blue Tree Project.

The health service manager also joined other hospital staff members in rolling up her sleeves and painting the tree.

“When they came up with the idea to paint a tree right here in our front yard, I thought it was terrific,” said Ms Connett.

“I’m very proud of them.

“It’s so good that they’re thinking about other people and thinking about how to get the message out there and get people linked in with the services they need when they need them.

“I just think it’s great, and the tree will hopefully spark conversations among people not only to come in here but even just in the community to raise awareness of mental health concerns and that it’s okay not to be okay.

“There is the mental health access line – 1800 011 511 – and it’s really important that people ring that number whenever they need to.”

Those who work in healthcare and at hospitals know better than most that the festive season can sometimes be a lonely, stressful and difficult time.

The Wee Waa Hospital teams want the community to know that even during the ‘happy holiday’ period – it’s okay to feel low but it’s important to seek help.

Wee Waa health service manager Yve Connett, maintenance manager Noel Woodyard, administration officer Kristy Schwager, administration officer Mary Jones, nurse Marika Sadler, HealthShare patient support Deidre Dubbelde, security officer Andrea Webb supporting the Blue Tree Project, a successful mental health initiative.

“I think during the festive season, if people are doing it tough, they need to reach out,” said Mr Woodyard.

“They need to talk to somebody, and the conversation can start just from meeting someone down the street or coming in here to the hospital and talking.

“It doesn’t have to be a conversation about what’s going on in their head; just a conversation about the weather or anything is a brilliant start.

“The blue tree is a symbol that the entire hospital is supportive of mental health, our doors are open for people to come in if they’ve got issues and have a chat and get support.”

The Blue Tree Project was founded in 2019 by Kendall Whyte after she sadly lost her brother to suicide.

The charity recently registered its 1100th tree and to mark the milestone a tree was shipped to Antarctica, so every continent was part of what is now a global movement.

It’s important to note that the blue tree was more of a symbolic gesture, with the ABC reporting it was only small, flat-packed and removed after photos were captured so it didn’t pollute the icy continent.

However, it still made an impact to spread the message that help is never as far away as it feels and conversations can make a difference.

The project might have been born out of tragedy, but it now offers a positive way for people to connect, especially in country communities, and help change the way we talk about mental health.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or the Suicide Call-back service on 1300 659 467. Alternatively, you can talk about support available with your doctor or local rural mental health coordinator (RAMHP) www.ramhp.com.au