Our Why
For young people aged 15 to 24, suicide is the leading cause of death.
There is an increase in the number of young people reporting feelings of loneliness and isolation. 54 per cent of young people lacked companionship, 47 per cent felt left out and 43 per cent felt isolated. The pandemic and enforced lockdowns have limited opportunities for close and meaningful connection, an important protective factor for good mental health. This is especially the case for young people, many of whom have been physically separated from their support networks at an important time in their personal development.
With two in every five young people experiencing mental ill-health according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data, it’s more important than ever that we support young people to stay connected with the people and things that make them feel happy and healthy.
Connecting with others gives us a sense of belonging and can improve our mental health and wellbeing… That’s why we started the Blue Leaf Initiative.
The concept
The Blue Leaf Initiative was inspired by the Blue Tree Project, which originated from the vision of Kendall after the tragic loss of her brother, Jayden Whyte, to suicide in 2018. In response, Kendall founded the Blue Tree Project to revolutionise conversations about mental health. The blue trees serve as poignant symbols encouraging dialogue and support, ultimately saving lives by prompting us to check in on those who may be struggling.
The Blue Leaf Initiative aims to enhance these efforts by adding leaves to these symbolic trees. While the trees serve as a reminder to check in on our friends, our leaves serve to extend this support by providing opportunities for connection, education and empowerment. Our mission includes fostering social connections, linking young people to local resources, providing education and training, and amplifying youth voices in the battle against suicide.
We thank Kendall and the Blue Tree Project for their remarkable contributions to mental health awareness and their collaboration and support of The Blue Leaf Initiative.
