This April, Students, teachers, parents and celebrities are all taking part in the Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge, especially in the Roseville community. People post their videos mainly on Instagram and tag others to do the trend, so that it continues.
The Speak Your Mind ice bucket challenge raises awareness for mental health issues, such as suicide prevention and reaching out when help is needed. It is aimed to help young people who are struggling.
Participants record themselves dumping a bucket of ice water over their heads and share the video on social media platforms (specifically- TikTok, and Instagram). Then challenge others to participate in the trend before 24 hours.
People are drawn to this trend because it is entertaining. Seeing friends get ice water thrown on them is easy access to entertainment. For example, Ryan Duce (12) was splashed with water from his deck above.
Student Amrutha Konidena (11) was also splashed from the deck above. She said, “My mom actually splashed me with water which was funny.”
Students share the importance of this trend. Konidena said, “it’s important to spread awareness about mental health especially through a cold ice bucket, it was also kinda fun!
Samantha Snavely (11) echoes this idea. She said, “it blew up and spread around really fast. It helped spread awareness for those who could donate.”
Additionally, students are drawn to social media feeds because they’re curious if they have been tagged or not. Anthony Black (12) said, “I check social media to see if I’ve been tagged because I don’t want to participate.”
Some social media influencers are going to the lengths of being dumped on with water by tractor loader buckets.
According to the US Sun, The new ice bucket trend started at the University of South Carolina. When Students from the Mental Illness Needs Discussion (MIND) club wanted to encourage conversations around mental health.
The campaign encourages donation to Active Minds, a nonprofit dedicated to mental health education and advocacy for young adults.To donate money go to Active Minds- https://support.activeminds.org/give/295403/#!/donation/checkout or follow on Instagram to raise awareness.
A decade ago the ice bucket challenge became a trend. The ice bucket challenge has always been for a specific cause. The original ice bucket challenge was to raise awareness for ALS.
The ice bucket challenge raised over $115 million dollars for ALS, according to The US Sun.
Although this is a widespread movement, there are also resources at RAHS that can help boost your mental well-being. Peer helpers are available to help as well as school psychologists. For more information read Beatrice Holterhaus story about Peer Helpers.
