Scrolling through Instagram stories, you may have seen your friends and even celebrities dump ice cold water on themselves, partaking in the University of South Carolina Speak Your Mind Ice Bucket Challenge.
The challenge originated from the 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge for spreading awareness of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) which helped raise more than $220 million.
The trend spiraled to celebrities such as James Charles and Haley Kalil, and eventually reached the Coppell community.
By participating in the simple act of pouring water on one’s head, the message of seeking medical help has surged the past few weeks.
Scientifically, pouring cold water on one’s head can activate the vagus nerve and trigger the diving reflex, which may help reduce anxiety and lead to a calm response.
“I think the USC Ice Bucket Challenge is a creative and quick way to spread awareness about mental health, as it helped to bring attention to it in a fun, student-driven way,” said junior Aisha Qamar, who participated in the USC ice bucket challenge.
By nominating friends, students loop their peers into addressing and acknowledging widespread mental health issues.
“I think the USC Ice Bucket Challenge has spread the message of mental health because it uses peer influence,” Qamar said. “People will be more likely to pay attention when their friends and classmates participate in the challenge.”
The trend emphasizes how social media can inform a mass amount of people, addressing concerns and providing resources to aid them with mental or medical guidance.
Many resources are available to Coppell students seeking medical or mental help, including programs or clubs that address mental health awareness, such as Hope Squad and the Mental Health Club at Coppell High School.
Last week, on April 29, CHS hosted its Mental Health Expo, a night dedicated to fun activities to improve students’ mental health. The event included guest speakers, a variety of booths, a food truck, pet adoption, raffles and games.
The awareness of this event spread throughout social media, with students reposting updates and reminders for the expo in attempts to encourage others to participate.
Social media has had an upward trend in bringing light to health and wellness awareness, sharing events and encouragement around the globe and on a smaller scale in a miniscule time frame.
The act of sharing a post regarding awareness of a topic creates a community of caring and empathetic individuals and can facilitate a world informed of ways to mitigate and acknowledge societal issues such as mental health.
Follow Katie (@katiegpark) and @CHSCampusNews on X.
