About 100 Port Royal Primary School students took to the street yesterday morning to remind people to be kind to each other.

The children waved posters they had made encouraging kindness as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, which this year carries the theme Be Kind. They shared their messages with passing traffic on Middle Road, Southampton.

Marita Martinez, the school’s counsellor, said: “We did lessons on no bullying and being kind to our friends. People have had a difficult time with Covid-19 — they have been isolated and feeling fragile emotionally.

“Art teachers allowed the students to produce posters about their vision of being kind.

“Children imitate the behaviours of adults. When they see unkind, selfish behaviour that’s what they will do.

“We have to be intentional to make sure we are cultivating kind children so they grow up to be kind, compassionate adults and considerate people.

“They thoroughly enjoyed it and got really creative with their posters.”

Ms Martinez carried out a survey with the upper level students to check how they were feeling about the changes due to Covid-19.

She said: “They understand it has been a rough period. They are not happy with everything, but are happy to see their friends again.

“It highlighted how we should treat people the way we want to be treated.”

The Bermuda Hospitals Board celebrates Mental Health Awareness Week each year.