The viral ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ is back — this time, to raise awareness for a new chilling cause

The Ice Bucket Challenge is back!

In 2014, Americans were asked to pour buckets of ice water on themselves and post the video to social media in order to raise awareness for ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis — commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

And they did — everyone from high schoolers to celebrities like Taylor Swift and Bill Gates got involved, resulting in a slew of viral videos.

In 2014, people challenged one another to pour a bucket of ice water on themselves and post the video to social media to raise awareness for ALS — Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Getty Images

The clips not only raised awareness of the progressive neurodegenerative disorder, but also raised about $185 million in the US alone — plus another $35 million worldwide.

Using the money, scientists developed a potentially breakthrough medication — sodium phenylbutyrate–taurursodiol — for disease sufferers.

The frosty challenge raised millions to benefit disease sufferers. Jürgen Fälchle – stock.adobe.com

Now, students at the University of South Carolina are doing their best to make a splash with the same challenge — this time, to benefit a new cause.

The #SpeakYourMIND ice bucket challenge was started by USC students in the MIND (Mental Illness Needs Discussion) club last month, as a way to honor a student who died by suicide.

The club is hoping that participants will be moved to donate to Active Minds, a national youth mental health nonprofit.

Much like the original challenge, all you need to do is: Grab a bucket, fill it with water and ice. Get a friend to dump it on you. Record the chilling moment. Post the video on social media with the donation link to support the work of Active Minds. Tag three others to do the same.

“It started as a random idea, inspired by the original ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and how powerful that movement was,” Wade Jefferson, Sophomore at USC and Founder of the MIND club, said in a statement.

“We wanted to bring that same energy to mental health. Watching it take off — seeing people we admire, like Peyton Manning, join in — has been surreal. We’re proud, grateful, and just excited to see how far it’s gone and continue to go,” Jefferson continued.

Some online have been quick to criticize the new challenge, claiming that copying the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge threatens to take away from the original mission, and questioned the connection, noting that the original version was meant to represent the physical pain of ALS.

Regardless, the #SpeakYourMIND Ice Bucket Challenge has raised nearly $300,000 for mental illness, according to USA Today.

“This campaign is everything Active Minds stands for — bold, mission-driven, and youth-led,” Alison Malmon, Founder & Executive Director of Active Minds, said in a statement.

“To see youth and young adults take an iconic viral moment and breathe new life into it for mental health advocacy is incredibly powerful. It’s proof that when young people rally together with passion and purpose, they don’t just raise awareness—they ignite a movement. This is how we create a new era of mental health.”