PS I Love You Day

PS I Love You Day

Kyra Henriquez

Feb. 24 2026

P.S. I 💜You Day

A lot of people know what it's like to lose a loved one, and, unfortunately, many also know what it's like to lose someone who has taken their own life. A person of any social class, career, or family situation can struggle with their mental health. Mental illnesses and negatively impacted mental health can be caused by a plethora of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors. For instance, Depression, anxiety disorders, and addiction have all been linked to family history, childhood trauma or abuse, chronic illness, major life changes (career-wise, death, etc.), and more. In the U.S., suicide is one of the leading causes of death. In 2023 alone, over 49,000 people died by suicide (in the U.S.). To put this into perspective, this equates to one death every 11 minutes of the year.

More Data/Stats on Suicide in the U.S.

There are a lot of things we can’t control when it comes to mental health. For example, we can’t force the people around us to get better or get help, and we definitely can’t control our genetics. Despite this, there are steps we can take to help ourselves and the people around us. Ultimately, self-care is one of the best things we can do to preserve and improve our mental health; this includes getting adequate sleep each night (this can be especially difficult for teenagers; who need more sleep than adults), engaging in relaxing activities or fun hobbies, eating a balanced diet, and partaking in physical activity, staying connected to others (if you’re struggling, you definitely need a support system). Remember, self-isolation helps no one. A good way to help your friends and family, or even a random stranger, is to reach out to them and make sure they are okay, let them know they aren’t alone, perform simple acts of kindness, and so much more. You might have already helped a stranger and not even known it; sometimes, simple actions or good-natured, friendly words can brighten someone's day enough to have a lasting impact.

In the U.S., there are a myriad of organizations that work towards mental health awareness and suicide prevention. One of these organizations started a movement that we recognize each year in school; P.S. I Love You Day takes place every year on the second Friday of February and was started by Brooke DiPalma, alongside Jaimie DiPalma, two girls who lost their father to suicide at a young age. Every year, they promote messages of unity, self-help, and community outreach. They do so while encouraging others to wear purple, the color chosen to represent P.S. I Love You Day 💜.

P.S. I Love You Day - 2nd Friday of February

Mental Health Awareness Month - May

Suicide Prevention Month - September

If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. This service is confidential, free, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In life-threatening situations, call 911.

Suicide is preventable—learn about the warning signs of suicide and action steps for helping someone in emotional distress.

P.S. I Love You Day in Carle Place

At our school, P.S. I Love You Day is celebrated annually with the help of the SADD Club (Students Against Destructive Decisions). This year, the Club decorated the hallways and placed meaningful messages on each student’s locker. Additionally, they created a large poster for the school lobby that people could sign and collaborate on, demonstrating school unity and our school’s goal for mental health proactiveness. SADD also partnered with our school’s Presidents’ Council to discuss P.S. I Love You Day with the elementary school’s Student Council to make sure they understood what the day was bout and how they can teach their peers about it. Together, they helped the Rushmore Student Council come up with some ideas for how to celebrate the day in their school.

Prior to the event, SADD sold apparel with kind messages for our school’s faculty/staff and students to wear on February 13, 2026 (P.S. I Love You Day). Furthermore, a representative from the Long Island Crisis Center (LICC) came in to discuss mental health and resources with students during their classes. The LICC is a free resource with a 24/7 crisis hotline. You can call to ask for helpful tips, talk about your frustrations, or, especially, if you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm. Sometimes, talking to a stranger is easier than talking to friends or family. You should never be scared to ask for help 💜.