Ice bucket challenge revival for mental health sparks controversy among ALS community

The Ice Bucket Challenge is back but this time for a new cause The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that went mega-viral in the summer of had more than million people on social media and even celebrities on talk shows dumping ice water over their heads The challenge supported by the ALS Association was intended to raise awareness of the sickness It ultimately raised million toward ALS research and subject care PARALYZED MAN WITH ALS IS THIRD TO RECEIVE NEURALINK IMPLANT CAN TYPE WITH BRAINEleven years later the Ice Bucket Challenge has been revived by USC Mind the University of South Carolina s Mental Illness Requirements Discussion club In patronage of a foundation called Ongoing Minds the country's largest mental wellbeing nonprofit for teens and young adults the USC group launched the SpeakYourMind Ice Bucket Challenge The challenge is taking off on social media and has raised nearly on the event s fundraising site EXPERIMENTAL ALS DRUG COULD OFFER NEW HOPE FOR PATIENTS IF APPROVED RESEARCHERS SAYThe trend revival has sparked particular debate for taking attention away from ALS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also known as Lou Gehrig s complaint a progressive neurodegenerative ailment that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord The average life expectancy after ALS identification is typically two to five years according to the ALS Association Brooke Eby an ALS case and influencer posted a video on social media with the caption Watching people steal the ALS ice bucket challenge for a different cause when ALS still doesn t have a cure and is fatal Fuming Michael Stone another content creator and ALS victim spoke out about the impact the challenge had on the ALS neighborhood It is more than a trend he printed in an infographic The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge changed lives THE TEEN ANXIETY EPIDEMIC IN THE US AND AUSTRALIA AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT Raising awareness for ALS is crucial because it leads to funding and funding leads to research Stone wrote What started as a viral challenge grew into something far greater a worldwide effort that s funding life-changing research and giving hope to those affected by this devastating ailment Brian Frederick the ALS Association's chief marketing and communications officer shared the organization s endorsement for the revived movement CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR STRENGTH NEWSLETTER We re thrilled to see young people taking up the spirit of activism for mental wellness but we also want people to know that ALS is still fatal and urgently requirements a cure Frederick revealed in a message to Fox News Digital Mental physical condition is an pivotal issue in the ALS locality given the devastating physical emotional and financial toll that ALS takes on entire families Frederick commented that the original ALS Ice Bucket Challenge dramatically accelerated the fight against ALS which led to new genes discovered new treatments in the pipeline and a essential increase in care services Since the challenge the ALS Association has invested more than million in ALS research followed by nearly billion in additional ALS research funding according to Frederick For more Medical articles visit www foxnews com vitality We still have a long way to go to turn ALS from fatal to livable and cure it but we re grateful to everyone for taking the Ice Bucket Challenge and raising awareness of ALS and mental wellness he added Cathy Cummings CEO of the International Alliance of ALS MND Associations noted that numerous people with ALS and their support workers can face serious mental medical challenges such as depression and anxiety Using the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness around mental vitality supports our public as well she notified Fox News Digital We would like to hold space for multiple people s experiences without needing to pick which is more deserving In a press release on Thursday both the ALS Association and Developing Minds reported they're teaming up in this new Ice Bucket Challenge for the month of May which is both Mental Vitality Awareness Month and ALS Awareness Month