The University of Southern California’s (USC) Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge is a renewed version of the 2014 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Ice Bucket Challenge, now focusing on mental health awareness. 

The challenge involves individuals filming themselves or one another dumping a bucket full of ice and water onto their head. The purpose of the video is to include a link for donations to the nonprofit organization Active Minds, helping bring awareness to the cause and fund mental health resources for youth and young adults. 

Once one has completed and uploaded their video on social media, they are supposed to nominate new participants through tagging them.

With many youth participating in the event, senior Diana Casillas shared what inspired her to take part in the event.

“I was nominated by a friend to do this challenge, but I really participated because I wanted to take part in this movement with everyone,” she said.

Although nervous to participate at first, she did so in light of the message the event is trying to spread.

“I think the message that this challenge is trying to send is one where it’s okay about being open about your mental health struggles,” she said. “It’s about communion and being connected to friends.”

Similarly, senior Renisha Patel shared how she defined ‘speaking your mind,’ and how this challenge connected to that idea.

“It’s just telling people or expressing your true thoughts rather than keeping it inside,” she said. “It raises awareness in a way that spreads quickly.”

She also shared how it felt when the ice water was poured over her head.

“It was obviously going to be cold since it’s an ‘ice bucket challenge,’ but it was really a shock,” Patel said.

Casillas discussed her desire and enthusiasm to also nominate her friends to participate in the challenge.

“I’ve nominated some of my friends already and I encourage anyone else who wants to nominate others to do so because it’s about being an interconnected community,” she said.

She also shared her advice to anyone who’s nervous about participating.

“If you’re nervous I’d say it’s okay and don’t worry too much, because this challenge is really about being supportive and everyone’s non-judgemental,” Casillas said.