Challenge: Speak Your Mind

I was recently nominated for the USC speak your mind ice bucket challenge and I have to say it was a blessing and a curse. A blessing to be able to advocate for mental health and a curse because I hate ice baths. 

The original ice bucket challenge went viral back a few years or more for ALS but now it’s back and this time it’s for a mental health epidemic that’s crushing people, especially my generation. It’s a topic that has gained more attention and awareness about it but still has a long way to go. 

If you know, I struggle with mental health. BPD, anxiety, depression, suicide, self harm you name it. It’s been a hard journey and one I never thought I would take. I like to joke with people saying sophomore year of high school Covid hit and sophomore year of college mental illness hit. But beyond dumping a bucket, or rather in my case a bowl of ice water on my head, it's is a hill that I would die on. 

Going to high school in my psychology classes I learned about mental health but I never completely understood it until I was in the thick of it. I said it once I say it again, those who struggle and live with mental health issues are the strongest people. What I’m trying to say is this: I understand now. And I will do whatever it takes to survive make sure others survive and let others know how important mental health. 

Ten buckets of ice water pale in comparison to the pain and anguish I and others have gone through. But here’s one thing. I nominate you to go out and help someone who struggles with their mental health. I nominate you to go out and spread the word and raise awareness. I nominate you to be the one who stands up for those struggling when they can’t. I nominate you to break the stereotypes and the myths about mental illness. I nominate you so that one day having a mental illness is not a cause of being bullied and not something that is shoved under the table but something we can all be honest and comfortable about. That’s what I hope for. And that’s why I nominate you. 

Ice bucket water, no problem. Spreading the word on mental health, now that's something we can all work on.