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.”

Japan's flu season has arrived earlier than usual, as a result, this has marked the country's second-earliest start in two decades. As per the reports by Japan Times and South China Morning Post, the health authorities too confirmed that influenza cases have surpassed the one-per-hospital threshold across roughly 3,000 medical institution. This, as official signalled, level is what marked the flu season.

As per Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, an average of 1.04 flu patients were reported per hospital in the week beginning September 22, landing up to Sunday. On October 3, the Health Ministry declared an epidemic after 4,030 people were treated at designated medical institutions. The number show an increase from 957 cases, from the week before that.

Where Are The Cases Rising?

The highest infection rates so far have been seen in Okinawa, averaging nearly nine patients per institution, followed by Tokyo, Kagoshima, and Fukuoka. In contrast, regions such as Tottori and Akita have recorded very few cases. The health ministry has urged residents to take routine preventive steps, washing hands frequently, wearing masks in crowded places, and getting vaccinated.

Read: Japan Flu Outbreak: How Climate Change Has Resulted In The Early Arrival Of Viruses

Is There An Evolving Virus?

Health experts, as reported by South China Morning Post have said that the early wave may suggest that influenza viruses are now evolving. It also mean that they are spreading more easily.

“The flu season has started really early this year, but in the changing global environment, this might become a more common scenario,” said Yoko Tsukamoto, a professor at the Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, in an interview with the media outlet This Week in Asia.

Around 135 schools and childcare centres were temporarily closed in the week Japan treated over 4,000 patients.

What Can Work? Is There A Need To Worry?

Researchers suggest several reasons for this early and rapid spread. One major factor is increased global travel and tourism in the post-pandemic era, which allows viruses to move more freely between populations.

Also Read: 8 Pickleball Warm-Up Exercises To Avoid Injuries, According To Expert

“We are seeing a greater circulation of people, both in Japan and globally, with people taking the virus to new places,” Tsukamoto explained. This constant movement can expose viruses to new environments, and in turn, encourage them to adapt faster.

There is also emerging evidence that indicates that some influenza strains are developing resistance to conventional treatments, a trend that scientists say warrants close observation but not panic. For now, vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure. Tsukamoto noted that while influenza is rarely dangerous for healthy adults, it can pose risks for young children, older adults, and those with chronic illnesses, who should consider getting vaccinated early.

However, experts have pointed out to not worry and follow "common sense precautions". These include good hand hygiene, proper ventilation, mask-wearing in crowded places, and timely vaccination. “For people who are healthy, the flu should not be too dangerous, although it could be unpleasant,” said Tsukamoto.

Lizzo, American singer and rapper, has always been open about her body and now, her body transformation. In fact, she has openly credited part of her transformation to GLP-1 medication, when she was asked whether she had ever used Ozempic.

"I tried everything," she said in an interview with Trisha Paytas' "Just Trish" podcast.

What Was Lizzo's Weight-loss Journey Like?

Lizzo, 37, has been open about her body transformation, and has in fact shared her weight loss journey publicly to her fans via social media over the last couple of years. In January, she revealed that she had dropped 16% of body fat and lowered her body mass index or BMI by 10.5 since January 2023.

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Apart from weight loss drugs, she had also credited her transformation to changing her eating habits and exercising for weight loss.

On Paytas' podcast, Lizzo said, "It's just the science for me- calories in versus calories out. Ozempic works because you eat less food. That's it. It makes you feel full. If you can just do that on your own - mind over matter - it is the same thing."

Two years ago, Lizzo had begun her "intentional" journey to transform her body and in January she celebrated hitting her goal weight.

"I did it," she wrote on her Instagram. "Today when I stepped on my scale, I reached my weight release goal. I haven’t seen this number since 2014! Let this be a reminder you can do anything you put your mind to. Time for new goals!"

Lizzo also told Paytas that while she never felt that doors were closed for her when she was bigger, as she walked down the red carpet at the Met Gala. She felt like her life has improved over the last couple years where she spent on losing weight and achieving her weight goals.

Also Read: Lizzo Shares How GLP-1 Drugs And Changing Her Eating Habits Helped Her Achieve Her Weight Goals

“I feel like I worked really, really hard. It was intentional, what I did with my body. So when I get compliments, I’m like, ‘Thanks, b*tch!’ I really receive it because I need to receive that. I don’t take it any weird way,” she said. “I worked so hard for it. The people who compliment me see me working hard for it — they see me in my calorie [deficit], they see me exercising every day, walking.”

"I do think believe I look good. Everything in my life kind of elevated. It was not just releasing the weight. It was just where I was at in my life, my team. I do feel like I am the baddest. No matter what size, at this point in my life, I am on another level," she said.

What Else Worked Along With Her Weight Loss Journey?

Lizzo also talked about how changing eating habits really helped her. She also talked about some of her new eating habits during a TikTok live. She revealed that she starts with her day with something "super savory" and lets go the "sugary stuff".

She said, if it is something sweet, it has to be with some "sort of like carb. I will have like almond butter and toast."

She also once shared that she used to consume "two to three" large Starbucks drinks a day, which would mean that she drank around 12,000 calories daily. She said that she gave up drinking that after she realized how much calories she was consuming. She also said that giving up coffee also helped her to regulate her nervous system.

Finally, she also praised her skincare routine and Invisalign treatment to make her look her best.

World Thrombosis Day is a global healthcare awareness day, celebrated on October 13 of each year to increase awareness about thrombosis, including what causes it, the risk factors, indications, symptoms and new treatments.

World Thrombosis Day 2025 Theme

The theme for World Thrombosis Day 2025 is "From Head to Toe, Take Control: Prevent Thrombosis, Protect Your Health".

This theme emphasizes the full-body approach to preventing blood clots and highlights the links between thrombosis and chronic conditions like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. The campaign aims to empower individuals to take proactive steps for prevention.

World Thrombosis Day Origin

World Thrombosis Day was founded by the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) in 2014, to raise global awareness on this condition and its prevention. This day was also founded to aim to educate the public and the healthcare professionals about blood clots, reduce premature deaths and disability, and promote actions against thrombosis.

Importance of World Thrombosis Day 2025

Before we understand the importance of this day, we must understand what does thrombosis really mean.

What Is thrombosis?

Thromboembolism is a vascular disorder that occurs when a blood vessel becomes blocked by an embolus—a fragment that breaks away from a blood clot. The initial clot formation within a vessel is known as thrombosis. This can happen in veins or arteries, such as in deep vein thrombosis (venous) or coronary artery thrombosis (arterial).

Once a clot forms, it can slow or completely block blood flow and may even travel to vital organs, causing severe complications. Thrombosis is the preventable root cause behind three of the leading cardiovascular killers—venous thromboembolism (VTE), heart attacks, and thromboembolic strokes.

Blood clots can develop in people of any age, gender, or ethnicity, though certain health conditions and risk factors can increase their likelihood. Patients treated with anticoagulants for VTE face about 7.2 major bleeding events and 1.31 fatal bleeding events per 100 person-years, with a 13.4% fatality rate in major bleeding cases.

The annual incidence of venous thromboembolism—which includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE)—varies with age: around 1 in 100,000 among children, 1 in 10,000 in reproductive-age adults, 1 in 1,000 in middle age, and 1 in 100 among the elderly. Reported rates show pulmonary embolism affects 29–48 per 100,000 person-years, while deep vein thrombosis occurs in 45–117 per 100,000 person-years.

With one in four people worldwide dying from thrombosis or blood clots, World Thrombosis Day aims to raise awareness about this often-overlooked but urgent global health concern.

What Are Some of The Tips To Prevent Blood Clots or Thrombus?

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Staying active by doing exercise & yoga
• Staying hydrated
• Quitting smoking
• Wearing compression stockings
• Taking breaks during travelling
• Limiting sodium intake