The USC “Speak Your Mind” Ice Bucket Challenge has taken over Instagram stories this past week.
Organized by the University of Southern California Mental Health Awareness Club and student leaders from the “Speak Your Mind” initiative, this event was more than just a bucket of water, but a powerful statement about raising awareness for mental health, encouraging open dialogue, and supporting one another. Many people from across the country have participated in dumping a cold bucket of water on their head in support of suicide prevention. This includes many students from South High.
Senior Mayson Bachelier has participated in this challenge, and has many opinions about the cause.
“I think it is for a good cause. It is important to be aware of this subject,” she said.
Senior Hudson Stone has a similar opinion on the reason behind this challenge.
“It’s a good idea because it brings awareness to suicide prevention and its okay to ask for help. So I think it’s a great moral,” he said.
Each year over 1.5 million Americans attempt suicide, that’s one person every 21 seconds according to the University of South Carolina Mind Club. Also, participants are encouraged to donate to Active Minds, a non-profit mental health organization.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this type of challenge though. In 2014, The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was created by Chris Kennedy, a professional golfer in honor of her husband, Anthony Senerchia who was diagnosed with ALS. This was also a super popular challenge at the time, and many people at South High remember it.
Marketing teacher Amy Boscan reminisced on the old Ice Bucket Challenge.
“Yes totally, I actually participated in it at the time,” she said.
Bachelier also remembered the challenge. She was 8 years old.
“I was a little kid when it happened and I remember it being super cold,” she said.
For some people, the original ALS Ice Bucket Challenge didn’t affect them as much as others did.
Senior Brody Gilreath participated in the challenge while it was raining outside.
“I did it while it was raining outside, but lowkey I warmed up pretty quick after it happened,” he said.
Boscan said that she thinks there is an unfortunate stigma surrounding mental health.
“We should be able to speak out about mental health, and not feel embarrassed about it. So I think it’s a great cause,” she said.
South counselor Carly Roach has a similar opinion about the reasoning behind this challenge.
“I think it’s an interesting strategy to bring awareness to a good cause, and it’s very worthy of being popular to a certain age group, bringing light to it in a positive way. I think when you know someone this has happened to, you would do anything for it to not happen to someone else,” she said.
