Latest news with #ActiveMinds
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
National Recording Artist Justine Skye Announced as Keynote Speaker for the 2025 Active Minds Mental Health Conference
With over 130 million streams globally, Skye uses her powerful voice to champion mental health awareness, encouraging young people to make their well-being a priority. WASHINGTON, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Active Minds, the nation's leading nonprofit organization committed to transforming mental health norms among 14 to 25 year-olds, announced that singer, actress, and mental health advocate Justine Skye will serve as the keynote speaker at the 2025 Active Minds Mental Health Conference. The Active Minds Mental Health Conference is the largest national event focused on youth mental health advocacy. Aimed primarily at individuals aged 18–25, the conference includes keynote presentations, breakout sessions, and interactive programming led by experts in mental health, higher education, and student leadership. It serves as a platform for participants to learn about the most effective strategies for promoting mental well-being and reducing stigma in their communities. 'Our attendees consistently tell us they're looking for real voices and relatable stories,' said Alison Malmon, Founder and Executive Director of Active Minds. 'Justine's journey and advocacy are powerful reminders that healing is not only possible—it's necessary, and it begins with courageous conversations. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Active Minds stage.' Skye, the Brooklyn-born artist who began her music career at just 17, has rapidly ascended in the industry with hundreds of millions of streams. Following her artistic reintroduction in 2021 with the album Space & Time, Skye has showcased her multifaceted talent, including her late-night television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and a prominent role on the hit series Grown-ish. Her single 'Collide' became a viral sensation on TikTok, accumulating 130M streams worldwide, proving her enduring appeal in the ever-evolving music landscape. Now, Justine Skye is stepping into the glow of a new era with the release of 'Oh Lala"—her first official dance single and Warner Records debut. 'Speaking up about mental health isn't a weakness—it's a strength,' said Justine Skye. 'I'm honored to be the keynote speaker at this year's Active Minds Mental Health Conference and connect with a generation that's championing a new era of mental health. This year's theme, Stories That Move, is a powerful reminder that when we open up, we not only heal ourselves—we inspire others to do the same.' More information about the upcoming conference, including session details and registration, can be found at About Active Minds Active Minds is the largest nonprofit in the United States mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms across society. For more than 20 years, we have equipped the next generation of peer mental health advocates through a variety of programs, including the Active Minds Chapter Network, A.S.K., and Send Silence Packing. Our advocacy, initiatives, and campaigns foster lasting change in how youth view and discuss mental health, encouraging them to use their voices to influence broader conversations and inform mental health supports within their communities. Together, we are building a diverse movement of champions committed to improving mental health for all. To learn more about Active Minds, visit MEDIA CONTACTS Dante Worth ( [email protected] ) Nick Dierl ( [email protected] ) View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Active Minds, Inc.
The Star
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
When everyone is having a menty B
If you've been on Instagram recently, you may have seen Insta stories of giddy teens dumping water – which don't even contain ice – on their friends in the name of #SpeakYourMIND. Influencers give pretty speeches in which they claim 'Mental health is important!' and give a cheerful thumbs-up of support. According to its own mission statement, Active Minds, the American non-profit organisation behind this latest ice bucket challenge, claims to foster a 'diverse movement of peer mental health champions' that 'transform mental health norms across society'. And while that is a well-intentioned cause, what exactly does it have to do with mental health awareness? The non-profit's website bats around words such as depression, anxiety, advocacy and change, but it's unclear what exactly this organisation is doing with the US$300,000 (about RM1.29mil) raised by the ice bucket challenge – and the actual impact of these efforts is murky to discern at best. Besides, if the success of the original ice bucket challenge in raising awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was questionable, why do we think it would work for mental health now? A little knowledge is not enough The problem nowadays with mental health isn't that it's taboo to discuss; it's how much we've turned mental health terms into buzzwords and online trends that spread misinformation. Youths may think their limited exposure to, and experience with, mental illness, be it in health class or through a stint of now-very-common depression or anxiety, means that they understand all there is to the endless ocean that is mental health. This false security in knowledge means that they aren't likely to seek out more information and may dismiss people who tell them to educate themselves. For example, when I asked people at my lunch table to stop gossiping about a classmate's recent suicide, I was told that I was overreacting and that they 'understood' because of going through a rough patch during Covid-19 – despite knowing that I had a close friend die under similar circumstances the week before. And now these youths are being turned into 'champions'. Don't get me wrong. It's a good thing that there are 'more than 15,000 young adults... (who are) passionate advocates and educators for mental health,' as Active Minds reports. But this may be like having someone with melanoma (a skin cancer) advocating for those dealing with leukaemia (a blood cancer) and claiming they have personal connections to this battle because of their experience with melanoma. Instead of actually educating themselves about serious mental illnesses, these youths may be convinced to douse themselves in water and throw around terms such as 'Menty B', meaning 'mental breakdown'. Romanticising mental illness The danger of using these terms so flippantly, particularly as internet slang, is illustrated by the 'prevalence inflation hypothesis', as presented in a 2023 paper by researchers from Britain and Australia. I repeatedly hear kids say they're having a panic attack when in fact they're mildly stressed by an upcoming test – so much to the point that I may not get the help I need for an actual panic attack. As kids hear these disorders referenced more often, through trends such as the ice bucket challenge, they may 'misinterpret milder and more transient forms of distress as mental health problems,' the researchers conclude. ALSO READ: The difference between being mentally unhealthy and mentally ill Active Mind's #SpeakYourMIND promotes exactly this. If we hear the concept enough times, we may start applying it to our daily lives, leading to incorrect self-diagnoses. We're following the trend of romanticising mental illnesses. As a Texas State University student put it: 'We are a culture of extremes, and attempts to destigmatise mental illness have inadvertently glamorised it', so much so that it's seen as having ''beautifully tragic' qualities'. Life-threatening conditions have been turned into what can only be called microtrends, but many people still don't under- stand what those illnesses entail. Seasonal affective disorder, better known as SAD, isn't just when you feel tired in the winter. People who have schizophrenia aren't dangers to society, and bulimia and anorexia certainly aren't the same thing! We must reform our use of mental health language so that we're not propagating stereotypes and allowing them to be turned into an 'interesting' facet of our personalities. This all begins with a more critical look at what the #SpeakYourMIND ice bucket challenge actually is: a dumb trend for people chasing internet virality while trying to look cute, who are not raising awareness for mental health. – By Abigail AuYeung/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service Abigail AuYeung is a senior (final-year student) at Hinsdale Central High School near Chicago in the United States.
Arabian Post
14-05-2025
- Health
- Arabian Post
Ice Bucket Challenge Returns with Mental Health Focus
A decade after its viral debut, the Ice Bucket Challenge has re-emerged with a renewed mission: promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Spearheaded by students at the University of South Carolina, the 2025 iteration, dubbed the #SpeakYourMIND Challenge, has rapidly gained traction on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The campaign was initiated by Wade Jefferson, a junior at USC, following the tragic loss of two friends to suicide. Organized through the university's Mental Illness Needs Discussion Club, the challenge encourages participants to douse themselves with ice water, share the experience online, and nominate others to do the same or donate to Active Minds, a nonprofit dedicated to youth mental health. Since its launch, the movement has surpassed expectations, raising over $345,000 for Active Minds. The organization's website has experienced a significant surge in traffic, reflecting the campaign's widespread impact. The original 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge, aimed at raising awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , garnered global attention and raised over $220 million for research. While the current focus has shifted to mental health, the ALS Association has expressed support for the new initiative, highlighting the shared goal of fostering awareness and support for critical health issues. However, some members of the ALS community have voiced concerns about the challenge's new direction. Brooke Eby, an ALS patient and influencer, expressed frustration on social media, emphasizing the ongoing need for ALS research and the risk of diluting the original message. Despite differing opinions, the #SpeakYourMIND Challenge has garnered participation from various public figures, including Peyton Manning and James Charles, further amplifying its reach. Live television segments, such as ITV's 'This Morning,' have also featured spontaneous participations, bringing the challenge to broader audiences. See also AI Browser Shift Sparks Alarms Over Online Privacy
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge? It's back.
More than a decade after the viral trend first got its start, thousands of people are dusting off their buckets and dumping ice water on their heads all over again—but this time, for mental health. The viral 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge raised $115 million in six weeks for what was, at the time, a severely neglected disease—amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which degrades nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord over time, leading to loss of muscle control and, ultimately, the ability to talk, move, eat, and breathe. But the global social media phenomenon did more than that. It forever changed the trajectory of ALS, leading to the discovery of disease-specific genes and treatments, greater scientific collaborations, and technology that improved patients' quality of life. (A decade later: How the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge made a lasting impact.) But how did those close to the original challenge feel about the revamped version—and what progress has been made since? We spoke with Patrick Quinn, father of the late Pat Quinn, one of the original Ice Bucket Challenge's three co-founders, as well as Brian Frederick, chief marketing and communications officer for the ALS Association (ALSA), to find out. After losing friends to suicide, Wade Jefferson, a student at the University of South Carolina, wanted to work towards squashing stigmas around mental health. He started the college's Mental Illness Needs Discussion (MIND) club, and thought a reimagined ice bucket challenge could breathe new life into mental health advocacy. Thus, the recent #SpeakYourMIND Challenge was born. The campaign, which launched March 31, has raised nearly $420,000 for Active Minds—the largest nonprofit in the United States that's working to change mental health norms among teens and young adults. It has even attracted some high-profile attention, including from former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and TODAY show host Jenna Bush Hager. While the campaign began to pick up some steam, some feared the revamped social media trend might take away from spotlighting the challenges associated with ALS. At the same time, people on social media were tagging the ALSA in their videos, connecting the original driving factor behind the trend with mental health. Shortly after, the ALSA and Active Minds joined forces to raise awareness for both causes, using the challenge to bring attention to the fact that ALS doesn't just affect people physically, but emotionally as well—a reality that isn't often discussed. 'Even in ALS support groups, mental health is something that was never brought up,' says Quinn. 'It was always physical. But when you really peel back each of one of those negatives, how much mental impact does that have?' Also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS affects roughly 30,000 people in the U.S., and most live only two to five years after symptoms develop. Because much more progress is needed to address patients' debilitating loss of function, Quinn feels like the mental health of these patients has been put on the back burner. Even though ALS was first identified more than 150 years ago, few studies have analyzed how the disease impacts mental health and vice versa. At least one questionnaire found that as physical impairment worsens among those with ALS, so does depression. Other self-reported surveys show that up to 64 percent of ALS patients feel depressed and 88 percent feel anxious. A 2019 study even found that poorer emotional well-being was associated with faster disease progression. Quinn, who watched his son battle ALS for seven-and-a-half years, said it can be difficult to recognize how people with the disease feel, especially once they lose the ability to speak, and even more so 'because they have a funny way of hiding it to avoid being a burden on their families.' (9 simple ways to boost your mental health, according to science.) But hope is on the horizon for ALS patients and their families. A study published in January found that Qalsody—the first gene-based therapy for ALS approved by the FDA in 2023—not only slows the progression of a rare form of the disease, but also helps restore patients' function. Companies are also leveraging AI tools to search through massive datasets to pinpoint biological targets that can help accelerate drug discovery and development, says Frederick. And advancements in technology are continuing to help ALS patients who have lost the ability to speak to communicate with others. 'There are many more things now that make it easier for them to not just give up,' says Quinn, adding that he's grateful that the #SpeakYourMIND Challenge has opened his and others' eyes to the importance of mental health for ALS patients. 'ALS doesn't have a face until it comes into your house' he says. 'One of Pat's big things before he passed is, no matter how bad things get, find a reason to find your smile—and just keep going.'
National Geographic
13-05-2025
- Health
- National Geographic
Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge? It's back.
People participate in the "Ice Bucket Challenge" in Gloucester, MA during the last annual "Plunge 4 Pete" on Dec. 28, 2019, what would have been Pete Frates' 35th birthday. The fundraiser started in 2012 after Frates' diagnosis of ALS, and eventually helped popularize the Ice Bucket Challenge. Photograph by Jessica Rinaldi, TheThe 2014 social media trend put the spotlight on unanswered questions and needed treatments for ALS. Will its return help? We asked the father of one of the original Ice Bucket Challenge founders. More than a decade after the viral trend first got its start, thousands of people are dusting off their buckets and dumping ice water on their heads all over again—but this time, for mental health. The viral 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge raised $115 million in six weeks for what was, at the time, a severely neglected disease—amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which degrades nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord over time, leading to loss of muscle control and, ultimately, the ability to talk, move, eat, and breathe. But the global social media phenomenon did more than that. It forever changed the trajectory of ALS, leading to the discovery of disease-specific genes and treatments, greater scientific collaborations, and technology that improved patients' quality of life. (A decade later: How the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge made a lasting impact.) But how did those close to the original challenge feel about the revamped version—and what progress has been made since? We spoke with Patrick Quinn, father of the late Pat Quinn, one of the original Ice Bucket Challenge's three co-founders, as well as Brian Frederick, chief marketing and communications officer for the ALS Association (ALSA), to find out. A revamped social media challenge After losing friends to suicide, Wade Jefferson, a student at the University of South Carolina, wanted to work towards squashing stigmas around mental health. He started the college's Mental Illness Needs Discussion (MIND) club, and thought a reimagined ice bucket challenge could breathe new life into mental health advocacy. Thus, the recent #SpeakYourMIND Challenge was born. The campaign, which launched March 31, has raised nearly $420,000 for Active Minds—the largest nonprofit in the United States that's working to change mental health norms among teens and young adults. It has even attracted some high-profile attention, including from former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and TODAY show host Jenna Bush Hager. While the campaign began to pick up some steam, some feared the revamped social media trend might take away from spotlighting the challenges associated with ALS. At the same time, people on social media were tagging the ALSA in their videos, connecting the original driving factor behind the trend with mental health. Shortly after, the ALSA and Active Minds joined forces to raise awareness for both causes, using the challenge to bring attention to the fact that ALS doesn't just affect people physically, but emotionally as well—a reality that isn't often discussed. 'Even in ALS support groups, mental health is something that was never brought up,' says Quinn. 'It was always physical. But when you really peel back each of one of those negatives, how much mental impact does that have?' What we know about mental health in ALS patients Also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS affects roughly 30,000 people in the U.S., and most live only two to five years after symptoms develop. Because much more progress is needed to address patients' debilitating loss of function, Quinn feels like the mental health of these patients has been put on the back burner. Even though ALS was first identified more than 150 years ago, few studies have analyzed how the disease impacts mental health and vice versa. At least one questionnaire found that as physical impairment worsens among those with ALS, so does depression. Other self-reported surveys show that up to 64 percent of ALS patients feel depressed and 88 percent feel anxious. A 2019 study even found that poorer emotional well-being was associated with faster disease progression. Ice Bucket Challenge co-founders Pat Quinn (left), Pete Frates (center), and Pete's wife Julie and daughter Lucy, along with Red Sox players and staff, take part in the relaunch of the Ice Bucket Challenge on July 31, 2015 at Fenway Park. Photograph by Arthur Pollock, MediaNews Group/Quinn, who watched his son battle ALS for seven-and-a-half years, said it can be difficult to recognize how people with the disease feel, especially once they lose the ability to speak, and even more so 'because they have a funny way of hiding it to avoid being a burden on their families.' (9 simple ways to boost your mental health, according to science.) New technology advancing ALS treatments But hope is on the horizon for ALS patients and their families. A study published in January found that Qalsody—the first gene-based therapy for ALS approved by the FDA in 2023—not only slows the progression of a rare form of the disease, but also helps restore patients' function. Companies are also leveraging AI tools to search through massive datasets to pinpoint biological targets that can help accelerate drug discovery and development, says Frederick. And advancements in technology are continuing to help ALS patients who have lost the ability to speak to communicate with others. 'There are many more things now that make it easier for them to not just give up,' says Quinn, adding that he's grateful that the #SpeakYourMIND Challenge has opened his and others' eyes to the importance of mental health for ALS patients. 'ALS doesn't have a face until it comes into your house' he says. 'One of Pat's big things before he passed is, no matter how bad things get, find a reason to find your smile—and just keep going.'
