Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has officially joined the growing list of Alabama leaders stepping up—and cooling down—for mental health awareness as part of the Ice Bucket Challenge launched by Longleaf Recovery & Wellness.
The initiative, which began earlier this spring, has already seen figures such as meteorologist James Spann and Longleaf leaders participate in the viral campaign aimed at spotlighting mental health care needs across Alabama. Spann, who accepted a challenge from Greenville Mayor Dexter McLendon in May, nominated Mayor Woodfin during his own ice bucket moment at Longleaf’s Birmingham facility.
RELATED: James Spann shares an icy moment with Longleaf Recovery & Wellness Director Paul Bryant Jr.
Mayor Woodfin took up the nomination without hesitation, sharing a statement before the bucket dropped.
“Hi everyone, I am Randall Woodfin, Mayor of the City of Birmingham, and I am honored to support bringing awareness to mental health. So today, this ice bucket challenge, I accept,” Woodfin said. “Mental health is an issue that exists in our community, City of Birmingham, State of Alabama, and across the country. Right now, there’s an intentional design effort to bring more awareness to mental health.”
He also gave credit to Longleaf Recovery & Wellness and its staff for their work on the front lines of mental health care.
“I want to thank the entire Longleaf team for the work they do to provide services and resources for those challenged with mental health issues,” Woodfin said. “I also want to acknowledge my friend Thomas Harris for his heart, his family, and what they are doing to bring awareness to mental health.”
RELATED: Longleaf Recovery & Wellness joins Ice Bucket Challenge to spotlight mental health care access
Continuing the challenge’s chain of support, Woodfin nominated the entire current recruiting class of the Birmingham Police Academy.
“Let’s all of us stay in the fight to help those who have mental health challenges,” he added. “Let’s continue to bring awareness and resources to this issue, especially here in the state of Alabama.”
With that, the mayor was doused in ice water. His reaction? “I did it! It’s very cold, and I’m going to get out of these clothes now.”
The Ice Bucket Challenge campaign has been a strategic tool for Longleaf Recovery & Wellness to promote access to mental health treatment and reduce the stigma associated with it.
For more about the challenge and Longleaf’s services, visit www.longleafcenters.com.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
