Dumping ice water over heads has become a new trend on social media, but many overlook the important message behind it.
¨Doing the ice bucket challenge was [so much] fun, but I did not really know what the whole purpose behind it was,” freshman Dominic Dimiceli said.
The University of South Carolina (USC) started the trend to raise awareness of mental health issues. The school’s Mental Health Needs Discussion (MIND) campaign dedicates the power of open dialogue, daily mindfulness and suicide prevention with a challenge that everyone can participate in. Creating an environment to talk about mental health as common as physical health is an important factor for a healthy community inside of the USC.
¨I am glad that this trend started spreading inside our community as well. I think it is a great thing that The University of South Carolina started, and I hope more people start spreading the message on social media as well,¨ junior Mitchel Byers said.
USC opened a fundraiser to help spread their morals about mental health worldwide. Along with starting the ¨Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge,” USC is raising money to help with these problems and have already obtained over $240,000 toward the goal of $250,000.
¨It is definitely a great and easy cause to help support mental health awareness,¨ participant and history teacher Michael Mosley said.
Many people online have already participated in the MIND campaign after it grew popularity, including those at Ocean Lakes. Various students and teachers include softball coach Micheal Pollock, freshman August Bridges and senior Ryan Gocio have participated in the Ocean Lakes community.
¨We have a great dolphins minds matter club here at Ocean Lakes as well,¨ Mosley said.
The ice bucket challenge is an easy and fun way to spread awareness, participating on social media can provide more insight on the purpose of mental health awareness.
¨Social media is a great way to convey information to young people since so many people our age use it now,¨ Dominic said.
