Columbia, SC- Students at the University of South Carolina have brought back the famous “Ice Bucket Challenge,” but with a new purpose: raising awareness for mental health. The university’s Mental Illness Needs Discussion (MIND) club launched the #SpeakYourMIND campaign on Instagram this March, aiming to support mental health initiatives and change the way people talk about mental health.
The club was founded by Wade Jefferson, a junior at USC, after he lost two close friends to suicide. Jefferson and the MIND team were inspired by the original 2014 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge which raised millions for ALS research. They decided to adapt the viral fundraising model to address the growing need for mental health support among young people.
Participants in the #SpeakYourMIND challenge pour ice water over themselves, post videos on social media, and nominate others to join all while encouraging open conversations about mental health. The campaign has already raised over $100,000 for Active Minds, a national nonprofit organization working to change mental health culture on college campuses.
High-profile figures like Youtube James Charles and NFL stars Peyton Manning and Emmanuel Sanders have joined the movement, helping it gain momentum far beyond USC’s campus. Jefferson said he initially set a modest fundraising goal of $500, expecting the campaign to remain local. Watching it go viral has been “surreal” for him and the other students involved.
While raising money is important, Jefferson and the MIND club stress that the campaign’s true goal is to spread awareness and educate people about mental health. They encourage everyone to learn more by following @uscmind and @active_minds on Instagram, and by visiting activeminds.org.
To donate to the campaign, visit active minds.org.
