James Charles and other famous people have joined the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness of the importance of mental health, but this time it’s for a cause.
Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge? In 2014, people threw buckets of ice water on their hair to raise funds and awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). The challenge took over the internet, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds. Fast forward to now, it has made a comeback but this time it’s all about mental health awareness.
A University of South Carolina (USC) student-run organisation called MIND (Mental Illness Needs Discussion) launched the ‘Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge’ in March 2025. In a statement posted on Active Mind’s website, Wade Jefferson, a sophomore at USC and the founder of the MIND Club said the campaign inspired by the viral ALS challenge had been “surreal.” He wrote: “We’re proud, grateful and just excited to see how far it’s gone and [will] continue to go.”
Videos of people participating and recreating the challenge are going viral and all for a good cause, to encourage donations to Active Minds. Celebrities have been getting involved in the fun challenge to raise awareness, including NFL players Peyton Manning, Emmanuel Sanders, James Charles and Haley Baylee.
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The ALS Association also praised MIND’s efforts, saying they were “thrilled” that the Ice Bucket Challenge was returning and that it was “a new form of activism.”
As reported by Yahoo! News, the ALS Association said: “We applaud efforts to raise awareness for causes like mental health — an issue that also affects the ALS community in profound ways.”
As they navigate a fatal disease that alters every aspect of life, “people living with ALS, their caregivers, and loved ones frequently face depression, anxiety, grief, and isolation,” it continued.
Pat Quinn, Pete Frates, and Anthony Senerchia, who were all ALS-positive, were also honored by the ALS Association. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was “a powerful movement,” the post added. Their “spirit of collective action” is still inspiring us as we work to make ALS treatable and treatable.
The Ice Bucket Challenge is what, exactly?
The Ice Bucket Challenge went viral in 2014 on Facebook. It began when, professional golfer Chris Kennedy challenged his cousin, Jeanette Senerchia, to partake in the challenge in honour of her husband, Anthony Senerchua, who had been diagnosed with ALS.
What turned into a “joke” eventually caught the attention of their hometown, including Pete Frates, a former college baseball player who had been diagnosed with the progressive neurodegenerative disease in 2012, and Pat Quinn, co-founder of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The inspiring fundraiser reached more than 17 million people and raised more than $85 million for ALS research in an effort to raise awareness.
Here’s how the viral challenge works for those who don’t remember: you fill a bucket with cold water and ice cubes, nominate others to participate, and watch as someone places the bucket on you. The purpose of the Ice Bucket Challenge was to make participants choose between giving to charities or getting soaked in freezing water. People who took the cold plunge instead of giving instead once it became popular.
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The USC Ice Bucket Challenge began in what way?
In March 2025, Wade Jefferson, the founder of MIND (Mental Illness Needs Discussion) from the University of South Carolina, posted a video on Instagram saying that they were launching the “SparkYourMIND Ice Bucket Challenge.”
In the post, they stated that all participants would be required to nominate those who could “SpeakYourMIND,” with the proceeds going to Active Minds, the largest US charity dedicated to removing the stigma surrounding mental health in young people and adults.
When two of his close friends passed away by suicide, Wade Jefferson was the financial sponsor of the MIND club, according to NBC News. Originally aiming to raise £372, which is $500, the campaign raised over £142, 000. With current conversion rates of $250, 000, Active Minds has now set a new goal of raising £187, 048.
Suicide prevention and samaritans
- Call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person, or visit the Samaritans website for emotional support.
Source: Mirror
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