Sound Familiar?
Deja vu is sweeping across social media users as the new face of the 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge has arisen, this time with a focus on mental health. Students from the University of South Carolina’s Mind (Mental Illness Needs Discussion) club have revamped the challenge nearly a decade later in hopes of raising awareness and money for mental health activism, and detigmatizing speaking up about mental health issues on online platforms.
A Chilly Challenge
Club Founder, Wade Jefferson, founded the MIND club after 2 of his friends sadly passed away due to mental health issues. While initially the challenge was meant to stay confined to just the USC campus, people from across the globe are participating, even garnering the attention from celebrities and influencers such as Peyton Manning and James Charles. Participants of the challenge pour buckets of ice-cold water over themselves and nominate friends to carry on the challenge and continue to spread the message. Originally, the goal was to raise $500 for the non-profit organization Active Minds, but since Friday, April 18, it has surpassed $ 100,000 raised.
Other Ways To Help
As much as it is fun and entertaining to watch your friends get ice-cold water dumped on them, it is also important to keep in mind the message and purpose of the trend. Mental health is a serious issue that affects 1 in 5 Canadians, and approximately 67,000 deaths in Canada are attributed to mental health issues.
The main goal for the Speak Your Mind Challenge is to start a conversation about mental health issues, which we can do by sharing information about mental health and dispelling rumours and myths to destigmatize negativity surrounding it. Additionally, it is important to check in with your friends and people in your community and be ready to help someone or even just listen when they’re in need. But most importantly, also focusing on self-care, and knowing when and who you can reach out to when YOU need help or someone to lean on.
If you ever need to talk to someone or if you or someone you know is facing a mental health emergency, you can call or text 9-8-8
TL;DR
The USC Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge has taken the internet by storm and has inspired thousands of people to douse themselves in frigid water to raise awareness for Mental Health.
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