This spring, the Ice Bucket Challenge is making a comeback, but this time, it’s focusing on mental health instead of ALS research. The challenge, which involves participants dumping ice water over their heads, has gone viral once again, with the goal of raising funds and encouraging conversations about mental health.
The revival was initiated by MIND (Mental Illness Needs Discussion), a student organization at the University of South Carolina (USC). The challenge officially launched on March 31, 2025, and has already raised over $195,000 for Active Minds, a nonprofit dedicated to changing mental health norms among young people. As of April 21, the movement has spread rapidly on social media.
Wade Jefferson, a junior at USC and founder of MIND, explained the inspiration behind reviving the challenge. “It started as a random idea, inspired by the original ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and its powerful impact,” Jefferson said. The loss of two close friends to suicide motivated him to create MIND, with the aim of using the energy of the Ice Bucket Challenge to promote mental health advocacy.
The original Ice Bucket Challenge, which began as a fundraising effort for pet charities by professional golfers, gained widespread attention when it was linked to ALS research. Pete Frates, a former college baseball player diagnosed with ALS, helped transform the challenge into a massive campaign that raised over $115 million for ALS research.
Now, the new challenge encourages participants to pour ice water over themselves, post the video online, and nominate three friends to do the same, all while promoting donations to mental health causes. The goal is to not only raise funds but also to spark conversations about mental health, an issue that has become increasingly important, particularly among young people.
High-profile figures are joining the effort, with Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and South Carolina football head coach Shane Beamer participating. The TODAY show hosts, Carson Daly and Savannah Guthrie, also joined the movement in a fun segment. These celebrity endorsements have helped propel the campaign’s visibility.
Active Minds has set an ambitious target of raising $250,000. Alison Malmon, founder and executive director of Active Minds, expressed her excitement for the campaign, stating, “This campaign is everything Active Minds stands for — bold, mission-driven, and youth-led.” She praised the power of young people breathing new life into an iconic viral moment to advocate for mental health.
While the campaign has generated enthusiasm, some have questioned the shift away from its original focus on ALS. Critics, particularly on TikTok, have raised concerns about the challenge becoming a superficial viral trend. One user commented, “Is it just me, or does this new Ice Bucket Challenge feel performative?”
Despite the mixed reactions, the ALS Association has supported the revival, emphasizing the overlap between mental health and ALS. “We applaud efforts to raise awareness for causes like mental health — an issue that also affects the ALS community,” the association stated. The original Ice Bucket Challenge helped raise nearly $1 billion for ALS research and doubled access to care nationwide.
The challenge has also gone international, with U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia, Edgard D. Kagan, taking part and nominating Malaysia’s Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. Kagan highlighted the importance of mental health in his post, reinforcing the message that “mental health is health.”
This renewed version of the Ice Bucket Challenge shows the power of social media to drive change. While the focus has shifted from ALS to mental health, the essence of community engagement and raising awareness remains strong. As the campaign continues to grow, it could play a significant role in changing how mental health is discussed and understood.
Whether or not it reaches the success of the original challenge, the “Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge” is already making waves. It serves as a call for more open conversations about mental health and aims to create lasting change in how these issues are perceived.
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