USC M.I.N.D ‘Mental Health Needs Discussion Club’ raising more than $200,000 to support mental health initiatives
A viral sensation from nearly a decade ago is making a comeback — but this time, for a different cause.
The Ice Bucket Challenge, which first swept social media in 2014 to support ALS research, is once again drenching timelines everywhere. A group of students from the University of South Carolina is reviving the trend, aiming to raise awareness for mental health issues.
“It started small,” said Meredith Blackwell, a junior and member of USC MIND, short for Mental Illness Needs Discussion. “Our Instagram had maybe 300 followers — just our friends.” Now, the club’s account has more than 856,000 followers.
The resurgence was sparked by Wade Jefferson, a fellow USC student and Greek life member, who proposed bringing the Ice Bucket Challenge back with a new purpose. “He was like, remember the Ice Bucket Challenge? And we were like, yeah — that’d be a great way to spread awareness,” Blackwell said.
In partnership with the nonprofit Active Minds, the students have raised more than $200,000 to support mental health initiatives. But club members say the greater success is in the conversations they’ve helped ignite.
“When you come to college, you realize there’s such a stigma around mental health,” said Kenan Springs, also a junior and club member. “No one should feel alone. Starting a club like this helps people know it’s normal to struggle sometimes.”
Blackwell and Springs noted that getting fraternity members to open up about mental health wasn’t easy at first. But with persistence — and a little help from a few famous faces — their efforts gained traction. University of South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer participated, followed by celebrities like Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Emmanuel Sanders, James Charles and Everleigh Labrant. Even The Today Show took notice.
With the challenge trending once again, USC MIND is already looking ahead. The group is planning a “Wellness Week,” which will feature mental health speakers, activities, and suicide prevention training sessions designed to equip students with skills similar to CPR — but for recognizing and responding to mental health crises.
Meanwhile, the ALS Association released a statement applauding the students’ efforts.
“We’re thrilled to see the spirit of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge live on in new forms of activism,” the organization said. “We applaud efforts to raise awareness for causes like mental health — an issue that also affects the ALS community in profound ways.”
