The History and Hope of P.S. I Love You Day

BY ETHAN RUBIN ’28

Although Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, the halls of Jericho High School are decked out in purple instead of pink and red to show the community’s support for P.S I Love You Day. P.S. I Love You Day was created about 16 years ago when two teenage girls tragically lost their father to suicide, leading them to wanting to make a change in the world. By creating P.S. I Love You Day, they intended to send a powerful message around the world that you are NEVER alone and there is always someone available to support you. Since its inception, P.S. I Love You Day’s compelling message has been heard by schools nationwide, including Jericho High School, which continues to honor the meaning behind the day.

On Friday, February 13, Jericho will be participating in their third P.S I Love You Day. Dr. Smith, Jericho’s very own school psychiatrist and advisor of the Jericho Mindfulness Ambassador Council (JMAC) shared how this event came to Jericho. Dr. Smith stated, “The idea was brought to me by a former student who had heard about the initiative and felt that JMAC would be the ideal club to embrace the message.” P.S. I Love You Day is a special day at Jericho, as student and staff both look forward to the positivity and important conversations it brings into the school community.

P.S. I Love You Day requires a lot of work to be well-executed in delivering its messages of kindness and mental health awareness to the entire school community. Through the leadership and coordination of JMAC, which works closely with staff and student spaces to ensure the day is meaningful and effective, P.S. I Love You Day is able to be a meaningful day for all.

“JMAC takes the lead in planning P.S I Love You Day and collaborates closely with staff members to spread the message out to everyone,” said Dr. Smith. “We have the Learning Center, Cool Beans, the Library, and Counselors who support the message by doing activities within their spaces.” These activities all help students learn more about mental health in a comfortable and supportive way while framing P.S. I Love You Day’s message and meaning. This exceptional collaboration shows how important teamwork is in successfully promoting awareness and support for mental health. With JMAC bringing together different parts of the school community, P.S I Love You Day has become more impactful.

P.S I Love You Day has a big impact on our school community. The day helps spread kindness and reminds everyone that they matter. When students wear P.S. I Love You Day’s official color, purple, and take part in activities surrounding mental health, the school community expresses that mental health is immensely important and that there are people who are supportive, who care, and who want to help. 

P.S. I Love You Day’s message of kindness often stays with students even after the day is over. Mimi D. ’28 said, “P.S I Love You Day spreads awareness about mental health throughout Jericho High School. It reminds students that it is okay to talk about their feelings and ask for help.” Not only does P.S. I Love You Day seek to spread awareness, it also brings the community together by fighting stereotypes about mental health. Mimi said, “This day specifically helps fight the stigma by bringing people together and strengthening our sense of community. Most importantly, P.S I Love You Day helps people feel seen, valued, and included, creating a school environment where everyone knows they belong here.” 

P.S I Love You Day is more than just wearing purple or decorating the halls. It reminds students that they are never alone and that it is okay to ask for help. The work done by JMAC, staff, and students together helps make this day special and meaningful for everyone. P.S I Love You Day helps deepen Jericho High School’s commitment to remaining a kind and supportive place.