Over 7 million Australian adults are close to someone who has died by suicide or attempted suicide, according to Suicide Prevention Australia.
One of them is Kendall Whyte OAM, who lost her brother Jayden Whyte in 2018. In the following year, she started a mental health charity named Blue Tree Project, which was inspired by a story of Jayden painting a blue tree as a practical joke on their family farm. After the tragedy, one of Jayden’s best mates painted a blue tree not only as a tribute to him but also to start conversations around mental health in their close-knit community of Mukinbudin, WA.
“What started as a grassroots movement has now turned into a charity that’s having an impact right across the nation and even overseas. It’s happened in quite a short space of time and a little unexpectedly. But there’s such power to the symbol of the blue tree and how it’s being used as a conversation starter and a symbol of hope for so many,” Ms Whyte explained.
To date, the charity has had over 1,440 blue trees registered right across the world, which are painted by a wide range of individuals, organisations, community groups, schools, retirement homes, golf clubs and morning clubs.
“It just shows that mental health doesn’t discriminate, and it impacts everyone across the world,” Ms Whyte said.
At the THRIVE National Youth Summit, she will be presenting a case study that aims to advance the role of storytelling to support mental health and build a connected, compassionate community. Learn more about her story through our Q&A session with her.
Based on the Blue Tree Project story, how can stories inspire change in communities?
What allowed the Blue Tree Project to gain momentum was my sharing of my personal story openly and authentically. I was very inspired to share what I’ve gone through because I saw how it helped inspire and give others strength and empowerment. By sharing my story, I give others permission to share their story.
When we’re talking about mental health, it’s important to remove the stigma and allow people to open up and create more conversations so that we make it a more everyday topic that they can approach. I believe it’s a conversation we should be having at all ages of our lives.
Our youth (our very young and never-too-young ones) need to learn how to be kind to their mind and others, and we should be teaching emotional intelligence from a young age, which will help with our own mental wellbeing as we get older.
Let’s talk about your ‘Boots on the Ground’ approach. Why is it working for regional Australia in prioritising conversations about mental health?
Our Boots on the Ground approach is something we’re proud of. We love going out into regional, rural areas and connecting with the communities for so many different reasons. First, it’s because I grew up in a country town. I know what it’s like living in regional areas and how limited access and support can be.
We see it as vital outreach work to go into these areas and provide the support we can. Whether that’s through events, free mental health training or counselling, it’s something we’ve seen that has been very effective in building a trusted relationship with a lot of individuals. We try to go back and revisit the same locations and keep building on that.
In regional areas, telehealth seems to be the default support now for those struggling with mental health. But for a lot of people, talking to someone on the screen is just not the same and doesn’t have the same impact. It’s a tough one because even if technology is great and does help in a lot of instances, it just can’t be a full replacement and an excuse to shut up services or not to do community outreach for a lot of the big organisations.
That’s why the face-to-face Boots on the Ground connection is vital, especially when we’re looking after vulnerable individuals and those who are struggling and going through a lot of personal challenges.
Is there anything you would like to add or highlight about the role of storytelling in building a mentally healthy future?
The power of storytelling for humans within our culture is something that’s always existed, and it helps build connections to individuals, culture and country. These are all vital for people’s mental wellbeing.
What should people look forward to in your session?
It’s my authenticity in presenting and the visual aspects that go along with my presentation. The Blue Tree Project is such a visual project, and we’ve been fortunate enough to work with many different communities, so it would be special to highlight that during my presentation. I’m also mindful of not only speaking about the problem but also trying to enable more practical takeaways to enable individuals to make or enact some changes for impact.
Catch Kendall Whyte as she examines the power of lived experience storytelling in advocating for young people’s mental health. Register for THRIVE 2025 here.
Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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