By Gavin Boyle
The ice bucket challenge has been revived by Gen Z for the #SpeakYourMIND campaign, as young people use it to support positive conversations around mental health.
“I think fundraising professionals and nonprofits and causes have sat around tables for years trying to say, ‘What’s going to be our ice bucket challenge,’” said Brett Curtis, the director of community fundraising at Active Minds. “I do think there’s a little irony in that it is just the ice bucket challenge again, this time to talk about mental health.”
The ice bucket challenge is a sort of social media-ized chain letter as participants get nominated for the challenge and, after completing it, nominate more of their friends to participate. After being nominated, nominees have 24 hours to douse themselves in a bucket of ice water.
The original challenge was created in 2014 to raise awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a neurological disorder that affects voluntary muscle movement, per the National Institute of Neurological Disorders. The challenge was created by three men living with the disease as a way to simulate how the disease causes them to lose control of their bodies, in the same way that ice water causes anyone to tense up when splashed by it.
The original campaign was incredibly successful as it not only generated awareness about the disease but also raised money for research and funding. In total over $115 million was donated to the ALS Association in response to the trend.
By reviving the ice bucket challenge, those behind the Speak Your MIND campaign are hoping to have a similar widespread reach with their message. While any donations toward mental health research and funding are celebrated, generating any money is secondary to the aim of wide publicity.
“The goal is to raise awareness about mental health and remind people that they’re not alone, and help break the stigma surrounding mental health conversations,” said Wade Jefferson, founder of USC MINDS. “Everyone faces struggles, and no matter who you are, there’s someone out there who’s willing to listen. This challenge is proof of that.”
Related: John Driskell Hopkins ‘Wakes Up Every Day Grateful’ Amid ALS Battle
They’ve achieved their goal as Gen Z has quickly taken it up, followed by many celebrities who have hopped on the trend. In addition, the campaign has already raised over $150,000 in donations, with proceeds going towards mental health education, resources and funding.
While it may not be a new idea, this ice bucket challenging is helping find a new way to tackle conversations about mental health and encourage those facing these issues to find help.
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