P.S. I Love You Day Is Friday

WEST ISLIP, NY - A day that started at West Islip High School has now spread to over 100 schools all over the United States.

In 2010, West Islip native Brooke DiPalma turned the tragic death of her father into an inspiring day known as P.S. I Love You Day.

Photo courtesy of Carlo de Jesus, Director of Digital Marketing and Communications, Marist College

After her father took his own life when she was 14 years old, DiPalma decided she wanted to start a club in order to combat bullying and spread awareness for suicide prevention.

"It all started with a simple idea," the now 21-year-old told Patch. "I was really upset about everything that I went through that year and I really just wanted to turn it around. I was sick and tired of being known as the girl whose dad committed suicide and I was sick and tired of walking through my hallways or just walking around my community and hearing children or teenagers and even adults joking around saying 'if that happened I would kill myself' or 'don't kill yourself over it' because here I am, I just lost my father to suicide and I said 'what can I do to change this?"

She mentioned the idea to a friend and with the help of principal Anthony Bridgeman and teachers, Ms. Wasserman and Ms. Jacobs, DiPalma started the club at her school.

"I just wanted there to be one day where everyone came together."

The school held an assembly and requested that just one student wear the color purple the next day to show their support.

The following day, DiPalma went to school and was greeted with a flood of purple.

"It was super amazing," she said.

After that first event, which took place on Feb. 11, 2011, DiPalma thought it would be great if other schools did the same thing.

Onodaga Hill Middle School in Syracuse

From there, it was history and now, the 8th annual P.S. I Love You Day will take place on Feb. 9, 2018.

"It's amazing that it has been going for 8 years but if it wasn't for those people who helped me when I was 14 years old create this day, this day wouldn't be the way it is today."

The day has certainly spread with now a total of 110 schools across New York, Virginia, Florida, Colorado, and Nevada participating int he event.

"Seeing it at other schools really has been a gift," she says. "At times of darkness after losing someone you're just waiting for some sign for that person and I'm so fortunate that every single year I get that from my dad through this day."

Every year, the day has a new theme and this year, it's "going the extra mile" in honor of DiPalma's sister, Jaimie DiPalma who ran the NYC marathon.

Jaimie, a 5th grade teacher at Sachem did a "go the extra mile walk" at her school to honor the theme.

Other schools are following too. DiPalma says she owes the success of the P.S. I Love You organization to social media.

"I think that now more than ever with the rise of social media, it has been a huge component in why its been able to spread for so long social media has been a huge part of it," she said. "People are so used to hiding behind a screen and so by creating the opportunity to have a face to face conversations and for giving kids an environment where they feel welcome and let them share their feelings and encourage it, will be noticed and valued."

One huge goal of P.S. I Love You Day is changing the stigma of mental health issues.

"It's not just changing one person, we're transforming communities to change their perspective on the way they see the world," DiPalma said. "We're opening up our arms and welcoming them and I think that is what keeps me going."

She hopes in the future, to see over 200 schools participate in the day.

"I hope to not only reach high schools but middle, elementary school and even preschool end stigma and create a stronger community that has those open arms," she said.

Woods Road Elementary School

DiPalma also hopes to reach people who have gone through a similar tragedy.

"I want to get that hope out more that hope that that no matter what tragedy you face there's someone there for you, someone who understands you and there is always a light at the end of the tunnel," she said. "At the end of the day, I could've ended a lot differently from this tragedy and I don't want someone else to go through the same thing that I went through, I want to prevent it before it happens."

Despite the fact that DiPalma is now a college student at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, she says she still receives support from the West Islip community.

"If I could thank anyone it's the people of West Islip who keep it going to this day," she said. "I've been getting so much support from the community and just knowing that support is there at home just means so much to me and lets me know no matter where I go, that support is always there."

Cayuga Elementary School in Sachem

Her advice for someone going through something similar:

"What I hope is that no one has to go through what I went through but if someone did lose someone to suicide my greatest advice is that that person didn't mean to do this to you and that that person loves you and they know how much you mean to them," she said. "Keep that light at the end of the tunnel and maintain that hope."

She also wanted to thank her mom and sister for their help with the organization.

"Without them this would all not be possible, they made the organization what it is they make the day what it is and the team together, we truly have achieved the impossible," DiPalma said.

Main photo courtesy of Carlo de Jesus, Director of Digital Marketing and Communications, Marist College