What is the USC Speak Your Mind ice bucket challenge? It's a viral challenge on social media inspired by the ice bucket challenge from 2014. The ice bucket challenge is a challenge where someone dumps a bucket of ice water on themselves or someone dumps it on them. In this case, it’s meant to spread awareness for those with ALS and for mental health in general.
ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the spinal cord and the brain. It leads to muscle weakness that can lead to difficulty in moving, breathing, and speaking. The cells in the body break down, and it leads to dysfunctionality in the body.
People who participate in this challenge to spread awareness for ALS and mental health pour a bucket of ice water on themselves, nominate others to participate in the challenge as well, then post the video online to spread the word.
The University of South Carolina made a student organization called MIND. It stands for mental illness needs discussion. This organization created the Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge that started back in March.
The ice bucket challenge was originally created back in summer of 2014 to spread awareness for mental health and donate to health associations. It started with high schoolers doing the trend, and it ended up with celebrities participating in it too. People like Taylor Swift and Bill Gates joined in on the challenge, recording themselves dumping water on themselves.
Now, with so many people participating back on the trend, $115 million worldwide was donated to ALS research and the ALS Association. ALS has affected over 30,000 lives, and so many more people are still joining the ice bucket challenge to spread awareness.
The ALS Association even responded to ABC News, saying, “We're thrilled to see the spirit of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge live on in new forms of activism.”
It's truly heartwarming to see mental health getting the recognition that it needs. People coming together to spread the word and help out those who are struggling makes a huge difference to the world.
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