The USC ice bucket challenge is a viral social media sensation kickstarted by students at the University of South Carolina in order to bring awareness to mental health in student athletes. The challenge involves people pouring cold water on their heads and then nominating others to compete in the challenge. More than 17 million people have participated in the challenge, and the challenge has spread to GHS.
Sophomore Drew Nelson participated in the challenge and created an Instagram post about the importance of calling awareness to athletes’ mental health.
“I think it’s important to talk about mental health even in people who aren’t athletes. As someone who has struggled with mental health and I even almost lost my life to it. I just think it’s so important to make people aware,” Nelson said.
There is also a sense of togetherness that the challenge brings, as friends nominating friends.
“I was nominated by a good friend, and then I nominated six others. It’s good to see the spread of the challenge through all social media platforms,” Nelson said.
Senior Ryann Marker was also nominated by a friend on Instagram. She felt compelled to do the challenge.
“ I was nominated to do the ice bucket challenge by a friend, and I was motivated to do it because I think the cause is extremely important. So I got a bucket of water and I filmed a video of me dumping it on me,” Marker said.
The ice bucket challenge also raises money to make large donations to mental health resources around the country. The USC Instagram page has a donation link, and you can donate money through the link.
Mr. Benjamin Sutton, counselor, has first- hand experience in the matters of student’s mental health, especially that of athletes. It was amazing for him to see the impact the challenge had on the school community.
“This challenge is all over the place, and seeing everyone’s video from this school shows how much people want to call attention to the mental health struggles of our student athletes,” Sutton said.
Sutton believes that athletes’ mental health has sort of been neglected and this challenge is an amazing way to contribute to the stigma that surrounds athlete’s mental health.
“I feel like we have to rub some dirt on it, and toughen up when it comes to athletes. I think this challenge is giving them the specialized attention they need,” Sutton said.
