In 2014, the Ice Bucket Challenge swept the internet, raising over $115 million for ALS research and transforming how the world engaged with health-focused crowdfunding. A decade later, the viral phenomenon is making a comeback — but with a poignant new purpose: mental health awareness. In 2025, a group of passionate students at the University of South Carolina (USC) have reimagined the concept into a movement called #SpeakYourMIND, an initiative that’s already raising both funds and conversations for the nonprofit Active Minds.

What began as a tribute to ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), a debilitating neurological condition, has evolved into a broader commentary on an equally urgent but often less visible public health crisis — mental health. This revival isn’t just about viral stunts; it’s about starting real, transformative dialogue.

Spearheaded by Wade Jefferson, a USC junior and mental health advocate, the new challenge is the centerpiece of the Mental Illness Needs Discussion (MIND) club’s campaign. Jefferson, who founded the club after the tragic loss of two close friends to suicide, envisioned a way to break down stigma and make mental health discussions more accessible, especially among youth. “We wanted to create something visual, visceral, and participatory — a challenge that could remind people how necessary it is to speak up,” Jefferson said.

How the New Ice Bucket Challenge Works?

Much like the original Ice Bucket Challenge, #SpeakYourMIND involves participants filming themselves pouring buckets of ice water over their heads, then nominating others to do the same. But this time, the emphasis lies in sharing personal stories or supportive messages around mental health, tagging friends, and donating to Active Minds.

Launched on Instagram in March 2025, the campaign’s momentum has exceeded all expectations. Initially hoping to raise $500, Jefferson and his team watched donations quickly soar past the $100,000 mark — and counting. High-profile supporters, including former NFL stars Peyton Manning and Emmanuel Sanders, have amplified its visibility.

Mental health conditions frequently emerge during adolescence and early adulthood — yet support systems, conversations, and awareness remain woefully underdeveloped in schools and colleges. According to Brett Curtis, Director of Community Fundraising at Active Minds, the campaign couldn’t have come at a more important time.

“Seventy percent of youth and young adults don’t know how to talk to a friend about mental health,” Curtis explains. “That’s a huge barrier. But when students lead these kinds of initiatives, it becomes more relatable, and people start opening up.”

Data from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) shows that one in five adults in the United States lives with a mental health condition. Among teens and young adults, the rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation have sharply increased in recent years, intensified by the pandemic, social media pressures, and societal instability.

By giving youth a platform to lead the conversation — instead of just being the focus of it — the #SpeakYourMIND challenge is helping shift the culture of silence to one of empathy and openness.

The campaign’s virality is evident in its geographic spread. From South Carolina to Maryland to Denmark, participants are posting their videos with the hashtag #uscmind. Interestingly, the acronym “USC” has caused some amusing confusion online, with many assuming the campaign originated at the University of Southern California. In reality, it is Columbia, South Carolina, where this student-led movement first took shape.

This international visibility mirrors the widespread attention that the original Ice Bucket Challenge received in 2014. That version saw everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Bill Gates to President George W. Bush taking part, with the funds benefiting the ALS Association.

The ALS Association has now extended its support to the mental health initiative, acknowledging the power of viral philanthropy to mobilize change, regardless of the cause. “The format worked once to bring awareness to a little-known disease,” said a representative from ALSA. “There’s no reason it can’t work again — this time for mental health.”

While the icy splash garners attention, organizers like Curtis stress that the heart of the campaign goes deeper than donations. “This isn’t about how much money you can give or how many likes your video gets,” he says. “It’s about making mental health a normal part of everyday conversations just like physical health.”

GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy have been under the spotlight as breakthrough drugs for type 2 diabetes and obesity. The medicines, developed from semaglutide, revolutionized physicians' methods of treating blood sugar and weight, benefiting millions in terms of their metabolic health. A new contender, ecnoglutide, has just shown in a phase 3 clinical trial that it could offer even more potent benefits particularly when it comes to weight loss.

Published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, the study adds to a rapidly growing body of research suggesting that next-generation GLP-1 drugs may not just equal but surpass existing therapies.

What Is Ecnoglutide?

Similar to semaglutide and dulaglutide, ecnoglutide is a class of GLP-1 receptor agonists. What sets ecnoglutide apart is its selective targeting of the cAMP pathway. These drugs imitate the effect of glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone responsible for controlling blood sugar and hunger. In stimulating insulin secretion, delaying digestion, and suppressing appetite, GLP-1 medications have become key in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and have also triggered substantial weight reduction.

How Does Ecnoglutide Work?

What distinguishes ecnoglutide is its selective inhibition of the cAMP pathway. This is the most critical mechanism of GLP-1's desirable effects. Current GLP-1 medications broadly act on several cellular pathways, at times producing undesired side effects. Ecnoglutide's more focused action could provide similar or improved benefits with fewer off-target effects, potentially being both more effective and better tolerated.

To test ecnoglutide, scientists performed a 52-week, randomized, phase 3 trial in 52 Chinese hospitals. The study enrolled 621 adults aged 18 to 75 with type 2 diabetes who were already on metformin, the current first-line treatment. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either:

Ecnoglutide at 0.6 mg or 1.2 mg, or

Dulaglutide at 1.5 mg, another commonly used GLP-1 agonist.

The primary goal was to measure changes in HbA1c, a marker of long-term blood sugar control, after 32 weeks. Safety, weight loss, and other cardiovascular risk markers were also tracked.

Both medications reduced blood sugar equally as well, demonstrating that ecnoglutide is on par with dulaglutide. But as for weight loss, the outcome was more dramatic. People taking ecnoglutide lost nearly twice the weight of those taking dulaglutide. On average, they also experienced greater decreases in:

• Waist and hip size
• Triglycerides (a form of fat associated with risk of heart disease)
• Significantly, these benefits were achieved with lower doses of ecnoglutide than with dulaglutide, which suggests higher efficiency and potentially lower costs of treatment.
• Side effects were mild and well known to anyone tracking GLP-1 drug studies—primarily nausea and diarrhea—and tended to dissipate as patients adjusted to the drug.

Osteoarthritis notwithstanding, type 2 diabetes and obesity are still two of the most urgent global health emergencies. Per the CDC, there are more than 37 million Americans who have diabetes and over 42% of U.S. adults with obesity. The two are strongly associated with heart disease, stroke, and lower life expectancy.

Though lifestyle approaches like diet and exercise continue to be paramount, medications like semaglutide and now ecnoglutide provide a potent medical intervention for those who cannot get adequate effects from lifestyle alone. The fact that ecnoglutide potentially surpasses an already proven GLP-1 drug suggests it could become a significant tool in the treatment armory.

Is Ecnoglutide the Next Ozempic?

It's early days yet. This was the initial phase 3 study of ecnoglutide, and it was of particular patients with type 2 diabetes in China. Additional research, particularly in heterogeneous populations and head-to-head comparison with semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), is required to establish its benefits.

Scientists also will investigate how ecnoglutide works with other diabetes medicines and if it may have similar long-term risks as GLP-1 drugs, such as effects on the pancreas or eyes.

Nonetheless, that ecnoglutide had equivalent blood sugar control and better weight loss than dulaglutide in such a high-stakes trial is a strong indication of its promise.

Accessibility and Cost Considerations

One of the criticisms for existing GLP-1 drugs is that they are very expensive and have a low availability, and this has limited access even in rich countries such as the U.S. The scientists who developed ecnoglutide hope it will be less expensive and simpler to make, potentially making it more accessible around the world if approved for use internationally.

This would be a major benefit, particularly in low- and middle-income nations where diabetes prevalence is rising but resources to support advanced treatments are limited.

The pharmaceutical sector is in the midst of an ecnoglutide boom, with firms competitively developing and optimizing these treatments. The triumph of ecnoglutide gives that trend further momentum, implying that we are merely just starting to discover the potential of GLP-1 biology.

For the time being, patients and doctors will have to hold their breath until bigger, multi-nation trials have been completed before ecnoglutide enters the popular lexicon. But to date, the signs are encouraging: a medication that can decrease blood glucose, have a greater weight-reduction effect, and quite possibly be more cost-effective than current drugs.

As the authors of the study said, "Ecnoglutide may serve to fill some unmet needs in type 2 diabetes treatment and constitute an advance in diabetes therapy."

Ecnoglutide's phase 3 trial has provided the medical world with a preview of the future of diabetes and obesity care. If subsequent research holds true, it may join or even exceed Ozempic and Wegovy as a first-line treatment. For millions of people with weight and blood sugar issues, that would be more than just longer lives – it would be healthier lives.

The recent decline in the beloved actor Bruce Willis’ health has affected many people. The legendary actor has now been struggling with frontotemporal dementia for the past three years. His wife, Emma Hemmings has been vocal about caregivers and their health, has been sharing updates with his fans. In a recent interview with ABC News, she shared that Bruce is still mobile and in good health, “It's just his brain that is failing him”

Bruce Willis Dementia History: Diagnosis And Initial Struggles

In 2023, Willis's family publicly announced that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This type of dementia can change a person's personality and behavior. Emma Heming Willis has written a new book, "The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path," to share her family's experience.

She described her early days as a caregiver as feeling like she had to do everything alone. She would stay up at night to make sure her husband was safe and would avoid social gatherings to make things easier for him. This experience led her to become an advocate for other caregivers, and she hopes her book can be a helpful guide for them.

How Does Caring For Dementia Patients Affect Caregivers?

Caregivers are often overlooked among people to be care for. According to a 2022 study published in the International Psychogeriatrics journal, in the U.S. alone, over 15.5 million people provide unpaid care for someone with dementia. Globally, the amount of time spent on this care is equal to more than 40 million full-time jobs, and this number is expected to grow.

Why Caregivers Need To Be The Ones Cared For As Well

Caregivers for people with dementia are often called the "invisible second patients" because they face so many challenges themselves. While some caregivers feel a sense of pride or satisfaction, many also experience high levels of stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression.

Studies show that nearly half of all caregivers feel a significant burden, and about one-third show signs of depression and anxiety. This emotional stress can lead to physical health problems, like chronic inflammation, which increases the risk of heart disease and other illnesses.

Recently, some experts have suggested changing the term "caregiver" to "care partner." This change highlights the idea that caring for someone with a long-term illness should be a partnership. This new term recognizes that the person with the disease also plays an important role in their own care. While this is a great idea, it can be hard to apply to people with advanced dementia who can no longer make their own decisions.

How Can We Tackle Caregiver’s Fatigue?

The 2022 study explained that a collection of seven new studies from different countries looked at various aspects of caregiving for people with dementia.

Caregiver Burden

An Irish study found that caregivers for people with dementia are much more likely to feel overwhelmed than those caring for older people with other health issues.

Preventing Nursing Home Admission

A Norwegian study found that when caregivers feel stressed and unable to cope, it is a major reason for moving a person with dementia into a nursing home sooner.

The Power of Compassion

An international study explored the role of compassion—both for oneself and for others—in helping caregivers.

Focusing on the Positive

Researchers in the UK reviewed studies on the positive side of caregiving, like a caregiver's resilience and sense of accomplishment.

Finding the Right Support

A Danish study developed a new tool to help identify what kind of support a caregiver needs. This could help create personalized support plans.

Exercise as a Solution

A Spanish study showed that a nine-month exercise program had a positive effect on caregivers, reducing their stress and risk of depression.

Making Interventions Accessible

A U.S. study found that caregivers were willing to pay for programs that taught them skills to better manage dementia symptoms. This suggests new ways to make these helpful programs available to more families.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is embarking on one of its most ambitious public health projects yet—expanding wastewater surveillance from five cities to 50 within the next six months. The program will track 10 different viruses, including influenza strains and pathogens responsible for fever, diarrheal illnesses, encephalitis, and respiratory infections.

The goal is simple but powerful: to create an early warning system for outbreaks before they overwhelm hospitals. For India, a country with a vast and densely packed population, the ability to detect viral threats at the community level could be transformative. For the rest of the world, the project provides a case study of how wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) can help governments prepare for and potentially prevent pandemics.

What Is Wastewater Surveillance?

Wastewater surveillance, also called Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE), is the practice of analyzing sewage for fragments of viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens that people shed when they use toilets, sinks, or showers.

An infected person symptomatic or not will excrete viral particles through stool, urine, or even when washing. These particles end up in community sewage. When scientists collect and test these samples, they can detect infection trends in entire populations, sometimes weeks before clinical cases surface in hospitals.

Unlike hospital-based testing, which only captures people who seek medical care, wastewater surveillance gives a panoramic view of community health, including those who are asymptomatic, undiagnosed, or reluctant to get tested.

Why India Is Betting Big on Sewage Science?

Currently, India uses wastewater surveillance to monitor COVID-19 and polio. But with ICMR’s expansion plan, the program will track up to 10 viruses. Among them: avian influenza viruses and pathogens associated with acute encephalitis syndrome, diarrheal outbreaks, and respiratory infections.

This move isn’t just about academic curiosity. It’s about preparedness. India, like many other countries, is witnessing a rise in emerging and re-emerging pathogens fueled by rapid urbanization, climate shifts, increased human-animal interaction, and dense living conditions. With its massive population and vulnerable healthcare infrastructure, early detection is not optional, it’s essential.

The scaling up from five cities to 50 represents a tenfold leap in capacity, one that could significantly strengthen India’s ability to anticipate outbreaks and allocate resources before a crisis spirals.

How Wastewater Surveillance Process Works?

The science behind wastewater surveillance follows a clear workflow:

Pathogen Shedding – People infected with a virus shed particles into sewage through waste or while washing.

Collection – Samples are taken from untreated sewage at pumping stations or before treatment plants.

Laboratory Testing – Viral fragments (RNA/DNA) are extracted and tested using advanced molecular methods.

Data Analysis – Trends in viral load are mapped, typically providing a snapshot of community infections within 5–7 days.

Public Health Action – Authorities can respond with outbreak alerts, vaccination drives, and resource mobilization.

In short, wastewater turns into a real-time diagnostic tool—not for individuals, but for entire neighborhoods and cities.

Was COVID-19 First Detected Through Wastewater Surveillance?

If there’s one proof of concept for WBE, it’s the COVID-19 pandemic. In India, a study from Mumbai showed the SARS-CoV-2 virus was detectable in wastewater up to three weeks before clinical diagnoses surged. In Pune, scientists detected the XBB strain months ahead of physicians reporting the first confirmed cases.

Across the world, from Sydney to San Diego, cities leveraged wastewater as an important gauge of viral spread, enabling policymakers to coordinate with greater precision by timing restrictions, calibrating testing, or initiating vaccination campaigns.

This forecasting ability is precisely why India's growth is important. Picking up on early warning signs in sewage might be the difference between a localized outbreak and a national crisis.

How Does Wastewater Surveillance Addressing More Than Just Viruses?

Perhaps the most underestimated use for wastewater monitoring is to monitor antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—an invisible international threat that might render many antibiotics obsolete.

India already has an AMR surveillance program in place through a network of 60 hospitals tracking which medicines are effective against which infections.But this only captures patients who make it to hospitals. Wastewater surveillance can reveal resistance patterns at the community level, detecting resistant pathogens carried by people who never seek treatment.

Given projections that AMR could kill 10 million people annually worldwide by 2050, this kind of broad, real-world data is critical.

How Wastewater Surveillance Can Predict Viral Outbreaks?

India’s program is ambitious, but it’s part of a larger global shift. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) already uses wastewater to monitor COVID-19 and other pathogens. In Australia, Dr. Jiaying Li and her team at the University of Sydney developed wastewater methods to track not only viruses but also “forever chemicals” and illicit drug residues, showing the technique’s versatility.

These international examples highlight why public health experts call WBE the “stethoscope of cities.” It listens to what individuals may not yet know about their health and helps leaders act before hospitals get overwhelmed.

For India, timing is everything. The country has weathered devastating outbreaks—from the 2009 H1N1 flu to COVID-19’s Delta surge—and its public health infrastructure is still catching up. Traditional syndromic surveillance systems (tracking patients with fever, cough, or diarrhea) are already in place but rely on people showing up at hospitals.

Wastewater surveillance changes that equation. It brings data from households, schools, workplaces, and entire communities—even those who never set foot in a clinic. That means potential hot spots can be identified and interventions rolled out before the first wave of hospitalizations.

The surveillance will be carried out through ICMR’s national network of Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories, which already tests about 1,500 patient samples a week for respiratory illnesses. Adding wastewater to the mix gives India a more layered, resilient system of outbreak detection.

If successful, the program could eventually scale nationwide and serve as a model for other low- and middle-income countries. Integrating wastewater surveillance with India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (a massive health data initiative) could turn real-time sewage signals into actionable alerts for policymakers and communities alike.

Wastewater may not be glamorous, but it might just be one of the most powerful public health tools of the 21st century. By expanding its surveillance network to 50 cities, India is not just strengthening its defenses against outbreaks it’s offering the world a glimpse of how proactive, community-level monitoring could rewrite the rules of epidemic preparedness.