Ice Bucket Challenge, the challenge to the sound of frozen water buckets returns viral for a new cause: sensitizing mental health

Over ten years after the first wave, the Ice Bucket Challenge Back to go crazy on social networks. But this time the frozen water bucket does not serve to support research against Sla as happened at the time, but to raise awareness of the theme of the mental healthwith a particular focus on the prevention of youth suicide.

In 2014, this challenge – simple but impactful – involved millions of people, becoming one of the first global viral phenomena on social media. In those days, the goal was to support the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Today, the initiative has turned: it started from the United States, thanks to the idea of ​​some Students of the University of South Carolinaand took the name of #Speakkyourmind Challenge.

Guided by Wade Jeffersonfounder of the university club Mind (Mental Illness Needs Discussion), the promoters aim to break the stigma surrounding psychological disorders and to promote a culture of daily dialogue and awareness.

Over $ 387,000 already collected

The mechanism remained unchanged: You overturn a bucket of frozen watereverything is filmed and the online video is published by appointing other users so that they do the same. But if in 2014 they were above all to tow the campaign Facebook And international celebrities, today the tam-tam spreads away Tiktok And Instagrampopulated by a new generation of creators and digital activists.

The result? A new viral wave that has already involved known faces of American TVincluding the presenter Jenna Bush Hagerthat the freezing water on live television was poured. Although it had started with the aim of collecting only a few hundred dollars, the campaign has already passed the 387,000 dollars in donations, intended for no-profit Open Mindswhich deals with mental health among the youngest.

Meanwhile, the Instagram account of USC Mind has exceeded the 800,000 followersdemonstrating how the strength of social media can transform a local idea into a global movement. There Ice Bucket Challengetherefore, is not only a nostalgic return, but a new opportunity to make mental health a theme of daily conversationjust as any other question related to well -being should be.