We’ve all seen the eye-catching videos on social media platforms of students, kids, family members and friends alike dousing themselves with ice cold water and nominating three of their friends to participate also.
“I first saw the USC Ice Bucket challenge on Instagram from my friends,” sophomore Kassandra Rangel said. “I wanted to spread awareness and it was a good cause overall. It looked like a lot of fun so I had to join.”
Though not the first of its kind, the most viral phenomenon currently on social media is the USC Speak Your Mind Challenge, with each person nominated pouring an ice cold bucket of water on their head. This challenge was started by University of South Carolina (USC) where students from the Mental Illness Needs Discussion (Mind) club wanted to address mental health, bring up suicide prevention, and encourage conversations about mental health awareness and wellness.
“I did the challenge because I wanted awareness to spread more around the school,” sophomore Ella Smith said. “The challenge is spreading the story and the knowledge of mental health awareness by each person participating.”
This challenge went completely viral, taking social media by storm. The shock factor no doubt helped promote the virality of the challenge. The “Speak Your Mind Challenge” is a revival of the original ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from years ago. However, this time the focus of the challenge has a focus on raising awareness and breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health.
“The challenge is about spreading awareness and never hesitating to speak your mind no matter how hard it gets,” sophomore Naomi Mekbib said. “Some people are just doing it for fun, or to nominate other people, but the people who are doing it for awareness and mental health are making a big difference to how society perceives mental health.”
Even though the challenge is simple- state who nominated you, and the three people you nominate- then pour a bucket of water onto yourself- it is supposed to be more than that. The significance of the challenge are the reasons behind it, not the shock of pouring ice water onto yourself.
“I participated in the challenge because I got nominated,” sophomore Samantha Finch said. “I think that a lot of people are getting it confused with a fun thing to do but in reality it’s to raise awareness of ALS.”
The USC Speak Your Mind Challenge isn’t just another trend for views, it’s about mental health. It was created to raise awareness and encourage conversation about mental health. The real challenge is to look beyond the fun and viralness- and to see the real meaning: that it’s time to open up. It’s time to speak your mind.
“The real meaning of the Ice Bucket Challenge should not be forgotten,” Finch said. “Mental health affects all of us, and it’s important to not disregard it.”
