What is the #SpeakYourMind Water Bucket Challenge
One day my child came home after practice at 8pm, got ready in a new outfit, and asked if there’s a hose in the backyard. A confusing turn of events, but one that I’m sure parents across America have been experiencing over the last couple months. Teens and adults have been nominated for the water bucket challenge, in a very similar way that occurred years ago for the ALS ice bucket challenge. Hosing my kid down while her friend pours a bucket of water over her head is pretty fun, but often with these challenges, the focus can be the experience more than the cause. I wanted to continue the conversation that this challenge started because it’s very close to the heart of our center.
This Speak Your Mind water bucket challenge started at the University of South Carolina to raise awareness for mental health and to destigmatize these struggles. Often we sweep mental health struggles under the rug and avoid conversations about struggling with grief, suicide, or other deep challenges that we don’t feel we can share. Mental health struggles or a diagnosis can feel shameful, but they’re incredibly common. We may have been taught that we have to suck it up, or that these challenges make us weak, but those thoughts often bring a layer of shame which is counterproductive to the goal of feeling better.
We live in a society where we share our highlight reel on social media, but struggle to share our genuine emotions or experiences with our friends. This can be even harder for males, who aren’t raised to be as emotional or social as girls, and therefore miss out on some valuable community and support as a byproduct.
We can fight the stigma of mental health by being honest with those around us. We can be open about going to therapy, how it’s helped us, or how we’re curious about this resource. Knowing that someone you care for or respect has sought out support can make it feel much easier to do so yourself. We can also be honest that we’re having a bad day, are still struggling with a death or loss, or are overwhelmed with our life. When we’re honest and acknowledge these challenges, even just to a friend, it can feel relieving to know that we’re not alone. Your bravery could also be what helps your friend or family member feel like it’s ok to open up and not have it all together as well.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck, it might be a great step to consider reaching out for professional support. Therapy doesn’t require a crisis or major life change to be effective. It can be helpful at any stage, whether you’re dealing with a specific issue or simply want to have a space where you can talk openly and process your feelings. It’s time to stop viewing therapy as something only for "emergencies" and start seeing it as an important tool for maintaining emotional well-being, just like we do with physical health.
So let’s keep the conversation going. Let’s break down the barriers of shame and silence that have surrounded mental health for far too long. Together, we can make a difference, one conversation at a time.