Family puts up holiday trees throughout Maine in honor of son who died by suicide
The holiday season is in full swing, with Christmas soon approaching, but it’s not a happy time of year for everyone. One study from the National Alliance on Mental Illness shows 64% of people with mental illness say the holidays make their conditions worse.
Some are looking to change that statistic. A family from Wells, Maine, is helping remind people that they are not alone this holiday season after losing their own son in 2022.
Trent’s Trees honor Trent Gibson, who died by suicide two years ago when he was 18.
“I love him, and I miss him, and I wish he stayed,” said Angela Whitten, Trent’s mother. “I wish he’d reached out for help.”
Christmas of 2022 marked the first year without Trent for the holidays. His mom says she wanted a tree to keep him included even after he died, and that idea evolved into something more.
“It kind of grew from being just a tree to memorialize Trent to memorializing others that we've lost,” Whitten said.
Trent’s Trees continued to grow after its first year with one tree, to seven by 2023, and now to 15 trees this year.
“You think about all those trees and all those conversations and all those people that are dealing with the grief and thinking about their mental health,” Whitten said.
The effort is all a part of Stay of Life, a nonprofit that Trent’s mom and stepdad created after Trent’s death.
“When it happens to you, and nobody ever thinks it will, you realize that this can happen to anybody,” said Donald Whitten, Trent’s stepdad.
The 15 trees span the majority of Maine and even part of New Hampshire. Each tree dons teal and purple lights — the two colors associated with suicide prevention awareness.
People are encouraged to leave ornaments on the tree for several different reasons. It could be to honor Trent or someone else they lost. It could also be to honor someone or oneself who struggles with their mental health, especially during the holidays.
“You'll see ornaments that people bring from home that are really, really special and mean a lot to them for some reason that's only known to them,” Whitten said.
Trent’s family says the trees will return next holiday season — potentially with even more to find across the state.
If you or someone you know is in need of support or someone to talk to, the Suicide Crisis Lifeline is a call or text away at 988. The number is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.