“Thank you so much for nominating me for the USC Speak Your Mind ice bucket challenge…” has become a common phrase flooding our feeds these past few weeks. I enjoy watching my friends get ice water dumped on them as much as the next person, but the trend is pointless if participants and viewers fail to recognize its underlying message. So, today, I will discuss USC’s challenge and why mental health advocacy and discussions are critical to promoting a more mindful, healthy culture.
Before we discuss the Speak Your Mind challenge, we must discuss the organization behind it. Laura Erskine, a writer for the University of South Carolina, states, “Wade Jefferson, who founded MIND at USC, says the group has three main goals: breaking the stigma surrounding mental health, advocating for suicide prevention on campus and practicing daily mindfulness,” which led the group to launch its Speak Your Mind ice bucket challenge to raise awareness and funds for mental health advocacy.
The challenge started on March 31, 2025, and was instantly an internet sensation, much like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge a decade prior. USC’s challenge was so successful that, according to The Foothill Dragon Press, “By the end of April, the challenge had raised over $370,000 for Active Minds (a mental-health non-profit organization for youth and young adults), surpassing their original goal of $500,” evidencing the power of unity in supporting mental health advocacy. I was thrilled to see such a well-intentioned trend take off, especially considering recent mental health data, particularly that of youth.
In recent years, mental health has been on a decline, which, as data shows, is significantly attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. A study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), “Revealed high levels of clinical depression (48%), anxiety (51%), and loneliness in both samples. Approximately 75% of young people in primary mental health care services, and over 80% in the general population, reported a negative impact on work, non-work activities and mental health and wellbeing,” which further proves the necessity of mental health advocacy and support.
Normalizing mental health discussion is critical to combatting the previously listed statistics. Just think: if we are not discussing the issues, how can we resolve them? Organizations such as USC MIND are helping reduce the stigma around mental health issues, thus contributing to a more mindful, healthy culture.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, I urge you to seek the support you need! Also, if you would like to show your support for mental health advocacy, you can follow this link for a list of impactful organizations!
Lastly, there is a photo below, sent in via The Changemaker’s Diary Instagram, from follower and fellow activist Bre Kennedy, who participated in USC’s Speak Your Mind ice bucket challenge. Thank you, Bre for your support!
Don’t wait for change, be the changemaker,
-Lyn Jones
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