This year, there has been a rise in acknowledging and supporting mental health. We can see that a lot of our youth are struggling with their mental health nowadays. So, our communities have come together to spread mental health awareness in the most exciting way, through a challenge. The challenge is called the Ice Bucket Challenge, and it is a revived version of the original challenge, but in this case, it’s focused on raising awareness and support for mental health, specifically for youth and young adults. A group of students from the University of South Carolina (USC). Specifically, the MIND club (Mental Illness Needs Discussion) initiated the challenge in late March 2025 to spread awareness. The challenge aims to promote open conversations about mental well-being and support organizations that provide resources and support for youth and young adults struggling with mental health.
To do this challenge, it involves participants pour a bucket of ice water over their heads, filming it, and nominating others to do the same while also encouraging donations to mental health organizations like Active Minds. This challenge has gone viral on social media, encouraging influencers to help spread the message.
According to Active Minds, within days, the campaign has garnered hundreds of thousands of views, inspiring over 2,300+ donations and raising more than $40,000 to support mental health resources for youth and young adults.
The response has been wide-reaching and deeply moving, proving the power of young people to mobilize and make change. “It started as a random idea, inspired by the original ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and how powerful that movement was,” said Wade Jefferson, Sophomore at USC and Founder of the MIND club. “We wanted to bring that same energy to mental health. Watching it take off – seeing people we admire, like Peyton Manning, join in – has been surreal. We’re proud, grateful, and just excited to see how far it’s gone and continue to go.”
“This campaign is everything Active Minds stands for—bold, mission-driven, and youth-led,” said Alison Malmon, Founder & Executive Director of Active Minds. “To see youth and young adults take an iconic viral moment and breathe new life into it for mental health advocacy is incredibly powerful. It’s proof that when young people rally together with passion and purpose, they don’t just raise awareness—they ignite a movement. This is how we create a new era of mental health.”
Now, Active Minds is encouraging youth and young adults across the country to keep the momentum going.
This challenge has even made its way to our school, encouraging our students to spread mental health awareness. Galileo student, Anydasol Acevedo-Garcia, has participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge. She gave her input on the idea of spreading mental awareness through this challenge. “I think the Ice Bucket Challenge is a very good way to spread awareness for mental health because it spreads through social media, which many people are on every single day. It is a fun and positive way to spread awareness, and it has spread very quickly all over the United States. I got nominated by James Kemp, although I did have a choice, it was important to me to show that mental health is something to be taken seriously.”
If you would like to also join in and spread mental health awareness, then go for it!
To participate in this challenge is simple:
- Grab a bucket, some ice, and a friend
- Record your challenge and tag three others to take it next
- Post on social media and tag @uscmind and @active_minds to be featured
- Include the donation link to support the work of Active Minds
Let’s Spread Mental Health Awareness!
Link to the website down below!
