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More than a decade after becoming a viral sensation, the Ice Bucket Challenge has returned.
The original challenge started around 2014 to raise awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The new iteration of the viral dare is called the “Speak Your MIND” Ice Bucket Challenge, which began recently.
According to People, the University of South Carolina (USC)'s Mental Illness Needs Discussion (MIND) Club brought back the challenge in 2025 to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention.
A video, posted on Instagram in March by @uscmind, featured the club’s founder, Wade Jefferson, with other board members Claire Peebles and Hunter Helmly, talking about mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Helmly is then seen pouring ice water on Jefferson and Peebles, who nominate others to take up the challenge and support the cause. A caption from the post read,
“Join the MIND team in participating in the SpeakYourMIND Ice Bucket Challenge and donating to the Active Minds organization upon nomination. By participating you are acknowledging those you nominate are some of the many people you can #SpeakYourMIND to and letting your peers know you care about mental health!”
As of this writing, the awareness campaign from the MIND Club has also raised around $244K (against the goal of $250K). Readers can visit activeminds.org to learn about the campaign or make a donation.
Since the original post, many have tagged @uscmind while taking up the viral dare. The Magnificent Seven actor Matt Bomer also recently posted a video taking up the USC MIND's challenge. He posted a short clip on his Instagram Stories, encouraging others to join the awareness campaign.
Matt Bomer took the USC Speak Your MIND Ice Bucket Challenge after getting nominated by his son
The White Collar star took the Ice Bucket Challenge after being nominated by his son, Kit Halls. The 47-year-old actor shared his video via Instagram Stories and said:
“Alright Kit Halls, I accept your Speak Your Mind Challenge to benefit Active Minds, a non-profit organization that encourages young people to normalize conversations around mental health.”
Matt Bomer added, before a bucket of ice water was poured over his head:
“I’m not going to nominate anyone in particular. Frankly, I’m still scarred from the Ice Bucket Challenge, but anyone who wants to stand up for mental health, please feel free to join me and tag me.”
The viral challenge originated in 2014
According to als.org, the original viral challenge involving the bucket of ice water began in 2014, when professional golfer Chris Kennedy challenged his cousin Jeanette Senerchia, who lost her husband to ALS. Kennedy was believed to be the first one to pour the ice water bucket on himself. Per als.org, Jeanette recounted later:
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“He [Kennedy] sent it to me as a joke and then it turned into something extraordinary.”
She later filmed herself taking up the challenge and nominated three friends. Soon, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge became a global phenomenon, raising awareness for the disease.
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