Friday marked the 12th anniversary of P.S. I Love You Day - a movement started on Long Island.

This year's theme is one step at a time. The movement was started by Brooke DiPalma, a former West Islip student, whose father took his own life when she was 14.

Brooke turned the tragedy into a call to action to spread kindness and stop bullying.

Every year on the second Friday of February, schools across Long Island and the world wear purple for P.S. I Love You Day.

The West Islip Union Free School District placed purple flags along Higbie Lane to raise mental health awareness in the community. The initiative started in the school district but spread nationally with hundreds of schools participating.

“Students are having a lot of anxiety, they are facing bullying,” says Beach Street Middle School social worker Carly Racanelli. “It’s an important message for them to know that they are loved and not alone.”

Students at the middle school say it’s important because mental health is not talked about enough.

P.S. I Love You has recently been honored with a citation for promoting mental health awareness.