The blue trees spark a conversation about mental health and suicide.
15 October 2025
In brief:
- Some trees in Canberra have been painted blue to raise awareness about mental health.
- The ACT Government contributes to the Blue Tree Project to paint trees blue in Canberra.
- A tree in Gowrie has been painted blue to coincide with World Mental Health Day.
Content warning: the following article discusses mental health and suicide.
If you’ve passed a blue tree in Canberra, you may have asked yourself or others ‘why’? This is the goal of the Blue Tree Project.
It can lead to meaningful discussions that help reduce stigma, shift outdated attitudes, and create safer spaces where people can seek help without fear of judgment.
The ACT Government has contributed to the Blue Tree Project by painting four of our local trees blue.
Why paint trees blue?
The Blue Tree Project is mental health initiative; their mission is to help spark conversations and encourage people to speak up.
The ACT Government began to participate in the Blue Tree Project in the ACT in 2023, painting a blue tree along Hindmarsh Drive in Lyons.
Most recently, a tree in Gowrie has been painted blue to coincide with World Mental Health Day.
Cultural assessments are carried out when selecting trees to paint to make sure the tree holds no cultural significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
There are now blue trees in:
- Acton
- Holt
- Lyons
- Gowrie.
Find out more on the City Services website.
Will the paint harm the tree or impact wildlife?
The trees painted aren’t harmed by the paint.
This is because the ones painted are not living and do not contain significant habitat elements.
The paint is also non-toxic, and an ecological survey of the tree painted is undertaken to ensure wildlife and any nesting birds or their habitat are not disturbed.
How does it support mental health?
Each tree stands as a visual reminder of the importance of speaking openly about mental health and suicide prevention.
Openly discussing mental health is an important first step in supporting people to seek help, addressing the stigma that still exists in our society.
Talking about the blue trees is a non-confrontation way of discussing mental health.
Better mental health services
The ACT Government continues to invest in mental health services to support the community.
As part of the 2025-26 ACT Budget, funding was committed to strengthen community-based mental health programs.
A free online program ‘Minds Together’ was also launched this year, to support families, friends and carers of those experiencing mental health concerns.
You can find out more about Minds Together on the Our Canberra website.
Visit the Blue Tree Project website for more information on the project and where to find a blue tree anywhere in Australia.
For more information on mental health support and care in the ACT, visit the ACT Government website.
If you need help
If you or someone you know need immediate support, contact:
- Access Mental Health (call 1800 629 354)
- Lifeline: Provides crisis support and suicide prevention services (call 13 11 14 or visit the Lifeline website).
- Beyond Blue: Offers support for anxiety, depression, (call 1300 22 4636).
- Suicide Call Back Service: Provides counselling for people affected by suicide or with thoughts of suicide (call 1300 659 467 or visit the Suicide Call Back Service website).
- Kids Helpline (call 1800 551 800)
- Medicare Mental Health: provides information, advice and links to free and low-cost phone and online mental health services, as well as supports to help you or someone you know (call 1800 595 212 or visit the Medicare Mental Health website.
- Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): an online suicide prevention training program, available free of charge to the ACT public. Access the training on the QPR website.
- Q Life: LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral (call 1800 184 527)
- 13 YARN: an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line (call 139276).
In an emergency always call Triple Zero (000).
The latest tree to be painted blue in Gowrie.
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