you don’t actually want to do the usc mind ice bucket challenge
mental health activism is becoming a trend.
I’ve tried to distance myself from social media for the summer. To my surprise, almost every story I saw this week is the USC Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge. I genuinely didn’t understand what it was for until someone linked the fundraiser campaign on their story. And at that point, I finally understood: this was for mental health.
I view mental health as an extremely sensitive topic, having dealt with my struggles with it throughout my life. Mental health is still a relevant topic and should not be dismissed. But practically no one added mental health to their script during the challenge.
They had assumed you knew, or didn’t even know what it was for themselves. It’s such an insensitive act, but so many people fail to realize it. Instead of introducing the challenge, mentioning why you were doing it, or talking about mental health, everyone went straight to:
“Thank you for nominating me for the ice bucket challenge.”
It isn’t just a trendy ice bucket challenge. So many people I know didn’t even know it was for mental health— they just knew it as the Ice Bucket Challenge or the USC one. But no one understood why and what it was really for. It’s the result of the stories and people who took part in the challenge not taking it as seriously as they should have. It was a chain reaction, just how the challenge works.
As controversial as this sounds, you do have to hear me out on this. You don’t actually want to do the USC Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge— you just want to pour a bucket of ice water on your head and tag your friends. It’s fun to do the “challenge” and drag your friends along with you. I don’t blame you. And either way, you are making the challenge known. But please reflect on your actions.
Why are you doing the challenge? If it’s along the lines of: “pouring an ice bucket because it’s fun” or “your friend tagged you.” That’s where you’re wrong. This isn’t why the challenge was created. It would not hurt to educate yourself. And advocate for mental health. It’s the least you could do. At least link the fundraiser. Put the right hashtags, not some made-up ones. Or simply state the right challenge name, and most people can’t even do that.
It’s an amazing movement to see everyone post on their main accounts being an activist; we rarely see that now. Personally, though, it feels off to me still. It’s performative activism all over again, hidden behind a tag towards the organization and the performative act itself— pouring a bucket of ice on your head.
The virality of this challenge has brought its repercussions— most people aren’t doing it right. Personally, it doesn’t matter if you’re hypocritical about the issue anymore; at least do the challenge right, and educate yourself. It’s the least you could do! Spreading awareness is still awareness, but please be kind and mindful towards others. Mental health is no joke, and I hope more people realize that.
Mental health is real— it always has been. May this serve as a reminder that activism must be done with an educated mind, because an uneducated one no longer impacts the movement or serves its purpose.
I do acknowledge that some are doing this challenge for the right reasons, but so many more are doing it for the completely wrong reasons. If you’re doing it for fun, at least just do the challenge right. And if you have the means to, please donate to Active Minds and other organizations that support mental health.
Thanks for sticking until the end. And if you still want to take part in the challenge, you’re a real one. Thank you for advocating for mental health. As for me? I have my ways of raising awareness— not participating doesn’t mean you don’t care. And for those who have done the challenge right, I truly appreciate you.