• About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Download App
  • Virtual Summit
  • Benefit Hub for Subscribers Only
SWHELPER | Social Work | Social Justice | Social Good
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • News
  • Culture
  • Mental Health
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Disability
  • Webinars
  • Podcast
Find/Post Jobs
  • Home
  • News
  • Culture
  • Mental Health
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Disability
  • Webinars
  • Podcast
No Result
View All Result
SWHELPER | Social Work | Social Justice | Social Good
No Result
View All Result
Home Mental Health

Why You Haven’t Heard about the #DoubtfireFace Challenge

Paul C. Milford, MSWbyPaul C. Milford, MSW
April 7, 2019
in Mental Health, News, Social Work
0
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on PinterestShare via EmailShare on Reddit

mrsdoubtfire

The ALS “Ice Bucket Challenge” is undoubtedly one of the most successful and engaging fundraising efforts in recent history. The challenge, which involved posting a video of yourself getting doused by a bucket of ice water, quickly gained popularity and became a social phenomenon. Teens, adults, celebrities, politicians, and even former President George W. Bush all took part in the challenge, with their videos gaining tens of millions of views. The result? The ALS Foundation saw donations skyrocket to over $110 million, a gigantic increase over the $2.7 million raised during the same time period last year. These incredible results show how the power of social media can be harnessed to raise awareness and support important causes.

But at the same time, the Ice Bucket Challenge (a term which the ALS Foundation has moved to trademark) swept across the internet, another challenge was desperately trying to gain traction. The #DoubtfireFace Challenge benefiting the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP) aims to raise awareness about suicide. Instead of a dumping cold water on your head, the challenge encourages participants to take cake (or whipped cream) to the face, recreating the classic scene in Mrs. Doubtfire where late actor Robin Williams dunked his face in a cake. According to the website, the goal of the challenge is to celebrate Robin Williams while raising money for suicide prevention efforts. The challenge has all the same ingredients that made the Ice Bucket Challenge so successful: a laugh-inducing activity, ability to challenge your friends and family, and raising awareness for an important cause. So why haven’t you heard of the #DoubtfireFace Challenge?

The answer itself is simple, but the problem it highlights is not. Depression and suicide are highly stigmatized, and for this reason people are uncomfortable talking about suicide and chose to avoid the topic all together. The public discourse about suicide that does occur is often fraught with misunderstanding and judgment. This was alarmingly evident after the death of Robin Williams, which many people termed a “selfish act” by the actor. Such comments perpetuate stigma of mental illness and further exacerbate the problem with how suicide is viewed in the media and by the public at large.

The truth is, depression is a chronic disease of the brain just as is ALS. They both affect the brain and can rob the individual of quality of life, make daily functions more difficult, and impact an individual’s ability to care for their self. And, at their worst, they both claim lives. The biggest difference between suicide and ALS is that no one blames the individual for having ALS. You’re not considered “selfish” or at-fault when you suffer from ALS. Certainly no one in the media labels ALS as the product of some personal deficit or weakness.

What makes this problem all the more heartbreaking is that suicide claims 535% more lives than ALS every single year. Even more staggering is that suicide is the second leading cause of death globally for 15-29 year olds. These statistics aren’t doctored, they’re reality. Yet, despite the shocking reality of the situation, we as a society continue to remain silent when it comes to suicide prevention efforts.

Every single day we choose to remain silent, another 100 people die to suicide in America. These are lives we could be saving if we starting speaking up. Donations to organizations that provide suicide prevention directly saves lives. The money often goes to pay counselors and other front-line prevention efforts. You have a chance to save a life today, if you chose to. Will you accept the #DoubtfireFace Challenge?

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, there are people who can help. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or visit the website by clicking here or to make a donation to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention visit their website by clicking here.

Watch the University of Kentucky Counseling Center participate in the #DoubtFireFace Challenge at the Wildcat Wellness and Suicide Prevent Fair on September 30, 2014. Please feel free to share your videos with me at google.com/+PaulCMilford

@NAMILexington Here is our #doubtfireface challenge! Consider yourselves challenged! http://t.co/74yJj23HTn

— UK Counseling Center (@UKYcounseling) October 2, 2014

*Author’s Note: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention was asked to provide a comment for this article, they declined.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Intense Child Custody Disputes are Rarely About the Best Interests of the Child

Next Post

Freedom Winter: The Failure of Truth to Keep Black Men Breathing

Paul C. Milford, MSW

Paul C. Milford, MSW

Paul C. Milford, MSW is a social worker specializing in the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families. Milford has a passion for helping others find the keys to their own success and draws from a variety of therapeutic modalities to help them do so. Milford received his Master of Social Work degree from the University of South Florida. Milford's clinical areas of interest include behavior management, depression, chronic disease management, relationship issues, school performance, and anxiety within the individual and family systems.

Related Posts

Journalist Turned Social Worker?
Opinion

Journalist Turned Social Worker?

January 24, 2023
Technology and Entrepreneurship in Social Work
Business

Technology and Entrepreneurship in Social Work

January 11, 2023
5 Ways To Boost Employee Wellbeing
Health

5 Ways To Boost Employee Wellbeing

January 7, 2023
Self Care is a Requirement
Mental Health

From Burnout to Firestarter

January 7, 2023
What is High Performance Culture and How to Create It
Business

What is High Performance Culture and How to Create It

January 7, 2023
Morgan State University Professor Anthony Estreet to be next CEO of NASW
News

Morgan State University Professor Anthony Estreet to be next CEO of NASW

January 5, 2023
Next Post
Freedom Winter: The Failure of Truth to Keep Black Men Breathing

Freedom Winter: The Failure of Truth to Keep Black Men Breathing

Is Politics Failing Social Work or is Social Work Failing at Politics?

Is Politics Failing Social Work or is Social Work Failing at Politics?

Leave Comment
ADVERTISEMENT
What Can Be Done To Solve The Foster Care Crisis?

Ending the Therapeutic Relationship: Creative Termination Activities

June 24, 2022
What Feelings Are In Your Heart: An Art Therapy Exercise for Kids

What Feelings Are In Your Heart: An Art Therapy Exercise for Kids

June 19, 2022
Want to Work With Children: 5 Skills and Qualities You Should Be Working On

Want to Work With Children: 5 Skills and Qualities You Should Be Working On

April 7, 2019

Connect With Us

Twitter
FlipboardInstagram
ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram TikTok
SWHELPER | Social Work | Social Justice | Social Good

  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Buy Merch
  • Download App
  • Terms of Service

© 2022 Social Work Helper, PBC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • News
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Politics
    • Criminal Justice
    • Social Work
    • Education
    • LGBTQ
    • Technology
    • Disability
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Webinars
  • Virtual Summit
  • Career Center
  • Download App
  • Subscriber Benefit Hub
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart

© 2022 Social Work Helper, PBC

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
Sign Up with Linked In
OR

Fill the forms below to register

*By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.