Back in 2014, the Ice Bucket Challenge was a viral internet challenge meant to raise money and awareness for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).
Now, in 2025, the Ice Bucket Challenge is back with the goal to promote mental health awareness and support.
Participants of the Ice Bucket Challenge record a video of them pouring a bucket of ice water over their head and then nominate others to do the same or make a donation.
Ice Bucket Challenge is back. Here’s why and how to participate
This year’s Ice Bucket Challenge was organized by USC’s MIND (Mental Illness Needs Discussion) and it’s designed to raise awareness and support for Active Minds, which is a mental health organization.
The challenge is meant to be a viral social media trend in order to spread awareness regarding youth mental health and suicide prevention.
When you participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge, you record yourself having ice water poured over your head and post the video to social media using the hashtag #SpeakYourMIND and tag @uscmind.
Tahanto baseball’s Jack Allen, left, and Nick Eck get drenched by Luke Stevens, rear left, and Tommy Chamberlain while participating in the SpeakYourMIND Ice Bucket Challenge on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Boylston.
Then, make sure to nominate between two and five people and tag them in your video to challenge them.
If you choose not to participate physically, you can donate to Active Minds instead.
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Why are people doing the Ice Bucket Challenge again? Here’s why