active_minds via Instagram
If you are regularly active on social media, then you are most likely familiar with the recent USC Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge. In late March, the MIND Club at the University of South Carolina started an ice bucket challenge to support mental health needs. Within the first few days, there were over 2,300 donations and more than $40,000 raised. Though this trend has certainly taken all social platforms by storm, it is not the first time the ice bucket challenge has been prominent in the media. 2014 was when the challenge was first introduced by the ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) Association. Now, in 2025, the ice bucket challenge has made a comeback to raise awareness for another important cause: mental health.
The Cause
The MIND Club at USC partnered with the Active Minds organization to start the USC Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge in hopes of “break[ing] the stigma around mental health” and raising awareness for young adults battling with their mental health (uscmind via Instagram).
The importance of mental health cannot be overstated, and unfortunately, it is not unusual for teenagers to struggle with it. According to the Compass Health Center, in 2023, 42% of teens in America said they “experience persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” (Compass Health Center). This has sparked widespread concern across the country and has led to the formation of several organizations, including Active Minds and the MIND Club, who are dedicated to improving accessible support for young adults struggling with mental health. Though it is fun to dump ice cold water on your head and nominate your friends to do the same, it is important to remember what the ice bucket challenge is for and educate yourself on the realities of mental health.
Donate!
If you are able, it is so important to get involved in issues that you believe in and donate to causes that you deem important. If you are interested in donating to help support mental health needs for young adults, visit activeminds.org or click this link: https://support.activeminds.org/give/295403/#!/donation/checkout
Instructions to Participate in the USC Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge
“Record yourself doing the ice bucket challenge after being nominated”
“Tag and nominate 2-5 people to join in”
“Make a donation via [the] fundraising page”
“Post your video using the hashtag #SpeakYourMIND and tag @uscmind”
Follow @uscmind and @active_minds and “visit activeminds.org to learn more” (uscmind via Instagram)
If you haven’t already, The Ravine nominates YOU for the USC Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge! Follow the instructions above to participate!