In a remarkable show of solidarity, neighbourhood houses in the Buloke have added 8 Blue Trees to their towns on World Mental Health Day, October 10, in support of the Blue Tree Project. The Year 9 CLIP students participated in the Blue Tree Project as part of World Mental Health Day on October 10 by painting and installing a blue tree, at the front of Sea Lake Neighbourhood House, in an effort to raise awareness and encourage people in the Mallee to have more open and honest conversations about mental health. In rural communities like ours, traditional stoic attitudes often shape perceptions of mental health, presenting both opportunities and challenges. Expressing vulnerability can be seen as a sign of weakness, discouraging individuals from seeking help or openly discussing their struggles. People often feel they need to tough it out, rather than reaching out for support and this mindset can lead to serious consequences, where individuals chose to suffer in silence and experience on-going mental health issues. There are more and more local and national initiatives raising awareness, encouraging open dialogues, and educating residents on effective strategies to improve their own mental health and ways they can help a friend or family member. These “Blue Trees, are all visible symbols of hope and resilience and a poignant reminder that it’s okay to not be okay. We hope these trees will inspire conversations and let everyone know that help is never as far away as it seems. Let’s continue the conversations and support one another in our communities, Growing Hope and Understanding in the Mallee, One Blue Tree at a Time.