It’s a rainy April day, and you get a notification from Instagram. Your eyebrows furrow in confusion as you are surprised to see that you have been nominated for some sort of social media challenge. You open Instagram and begin to investigate. You are startled when your friend gets abruptly drenched by a bucket of ice-cold water.
“You have 24 hours to complete the challenge,” you’re told.
You act fast to participate in the growing phenomenon, quickly finding a bucket to fill and rapidly searching for someone to dump it on you.
But that’s when you’re hit with the question: What exactly am I participating in?
The Ice Bucket Challenge is a fundraising campaign that originated in 2014 to spread awareness and raise money for the neurodegenerative disease ASL (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Millions participated in the challenge, including celebrities, public figures, and everyday people. Ultimately, more than $115 million was raised for research efforts.
A decade later, the trend has returned to spread awareness and break the stigma surrounding mental health. This version originated from the University of South Carolina’s MIND (Mental Illness Needs Discussion) club.
The club was founded by junior Wadde Jefferson. His inspiration to start the club stemmed from his friend’s death, who committed suicide.
The MIND club launched the #SpeakYourMind campaign to promote suicide awareness and mindfulness. The campaign began with a goal of raising $500 for the club and quickly gained popularity as more people participated in the trend.
Along with the 24 hours you have to complete the challenge, the rules include nominating 2-5 friends by tagging them in your post, sharing the video, using the hashtag #SpeakYourMind, and educating yourself on the progressing topic of mental health.
Many LFHS students have participated in the challenge and in doing so, have made a direct impact on advocating for mental health while displaying support for those who struggle.
“It felt great supporting a cause like USC Speak Your Mind. I am close with people who struggle with mental health, and it felt more personal knowing that I was not only spreading awareness, but advocating for people I care for,” sophomore Morgan Newman said.
Many also felt that the contribution to spreading awareness from all sorts of people is symbolic of the change that is possible.
“I just think it’s great to see the widespread participation across multiple different populations and unite behind a cause that needs to be continually discussed,” CROYA student union Program Manager Rick Day said.
The vulnerability of the challenge is also notable. For most, Instagram and other social media apps are concentrated on achieving a certain aesthetic. This challenge breaks that front, and allows individuals to feel a sense of community.
“For people to be willing to take a break from that to present themselves in a very imperfect light, like the reaction to a bucket of cold water, is such a refreshing break and brings a sense of reality and vulnerability to a digital platform,” Day said.
For most students, the topic of mental health is what ultimately persuaded them. Spreading awareness and breaking the stigma are important to several high school students, especially students at LFHS.
“It made me feel apart of something bigger all while knowing that I was spreading awareness for an important topic like mental health,” junior Mia Konkol said.
