The Ice Bucket Challenge is making a comeback.

The original Ice Bucket Challenge was publicized in 2014 to raise awareness for Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS). It began to grow viral after Chris Kennedy, a professional golfer, challenged his cousin, Jeanette Senerchia, to do this challenge in honor of her husband, who had been diagnosed with ALS. They posted it as a joke, but then was taken seriously by many people.. From there, the challenge quickly spread across the United States. Now, in 2025, people are rebranding it as the University of Southern California Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge. It makes people become more aware of the mental illness struggles.

The University of Southern California’s MIND Club came up with this new fundraiser as one of the members, Wade Jefferson, was inspired to have this trend make a comeback for awareness. The #SpeakYourMIND challenge and the MIND club are significant aspects of Jefferson’s life because his two friends committed suicide. Originally, he set a goal for $500 and only expected this to be spread around the campus, but now the campaign has raised over $190,000 for Active Minds.  He decided to do this to encourage students and others to have open conversations about their mental health. This challenge may seem funny or silly, but it is beneficial to everyone, everywhere. 

The #SpeakYourMIND challenge starts with being nominated by someone you know and are friends with on Instagram. Once you are tagged on someone’s Instagram story, you have 24 hours to complete the challenge. As you begin to record the video, you thank whoever and however many people nominated you, state that you’re participating in the ice bucket challenge, and nominate the next person/ people whom you want to do it. Then, usually, you take a bucket or water bottle full of ice-cold water and have it dumped on your head. You, yourself, friends, or family members can pour it on your head.

Anytime Instagram is open on a device, it is almost guaranteed that all the stories available to be viewed are just people doing the ice bucket challenge. People all around the world are coming together to participate in this trend for the cause. Many students all around the country have participated, including many from Wayne Hills, and they continue to keep the trend going. Carlee Mirko, a sophomore at Wayne Hills, says, “The USC Ice bucket Challenge is a great way to spread mental health awareness. I was nominated once by my cousin, and I am really happy I got to participate and nominate people.” 

Deniz Durgut, a freshman at Wayne Hills High School, said, “I think the ice bucket challenge is really nice because I feel like there’s a lot of people going through mental health [struggles]. I think it’s nice to bring an awareness to this problem. I also did it and I’m glad I did [because] personally I sometimes feel like I’m struggling with mental health issues. Even though I don’t have them it’s nice to feel seen. I’m sure people that actually have mental health problems feel seen right now and I’m so happy I was a part of a good cause.”

People feel good when they participate in this cause. Even if you haven’t been a part of it yet, there is always some way to participate, from donating to actually being nominated.