“Ice Bucket Challenge” is back to raise awareness of mental health
In 2025, participants conducted an “Ice Bucket Challenge” to raise awareness and fund the causes of mental health.
“Please wait another day.”
Yes, these are the lyrics to Wilson Phillips’ “Hold On.” They are also the mantra where Wilson Phillips singer Carney Wilson stays as the champion of all those struggling with silence from countless health conditions.
“I was my own advocate who had to advocate for my depression, anxiety and OCD,” says Wilson, 57, on a Zoom call from Los Angeles. “I’m struggling with these things and they’re not weak for me. I think at some point I was hiding in a closet drinking vodka. I think it’s weak. Wilson, the daughter of 82-year-old beach boys singer Brian Wilson, has spoken about her drinking trip and has not drunk alcohol in over 20 years.
As part of her advocacy work, she is partnering with Neurocrine Biosciences on the “Connect with Carnie” initiative. It is an involuntary movement disorder associated with several mental health medications that can interfere with quality of life. Over 800,000 Americans have it, of which 60% have not been diagnosed.
“I want to be a catalyst for them to come out of the shadows and seek treatment,” she says.
“I know what it’s like to isolate.”
Wilson’s happy place is usually her kitchen. But she is in the middle of a modification.
“It was a bit busy around here,” says Wilson, “crazy, two kids, a dog, and you know, life, a lot going on, but this is a very exciting time.” She and her musician husband, Rob Bonfiglio, share their two daughters, “American Idol” contestant Laura.
Wilson knows what it’s like to have more in your mind, along with excessive health concerns at any time. That’s where her empathy for TD patients came into play.
“I know what it’s like to isolate in general,” she says. “When I get hooked on drugs and alcohol, I feel like I don’t just want to hide my vulnerability, I also need help.”
People can develop TD while taking dopamine-targeted medications used for depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and more. This condition affects all body parts, including the tongue, lips, eyes, and feet, further complicating mental health. People taking psychiatric medications should monitor themselves for atypical symptoms.
“One of the difficult things about that is that this movement looks abnormal,” says Dr. Greg Mattingly, president of the American Professional Association for ADHD and Related Disabilities. It is prominent and “it tends to be highly condemned.” People avoid going out to restaurants due to shame. Severity range.
“It’s not just a trembling,” adds Mattingly. “It’s an unwilling move that has made people isolate, retreated and stopped them from what they were giving them joy.”
It probably won’t go away, but it can be treated with certain medications, including Ingresser. Still, there is no cure.
People’s mental health journeys are also less linear and less cut.
“The goal is not happiness,” Wilson says. “For me, my goal is balance.”
Carney Wilson discusses Daddy Brian Wilson’s mental health journey
Wilson always felt different as a young girl, and turned to sugar and food, striving for comfort and safety. Mild chronic depression was beneath the surface of her mind. Both the father and grandmother, who are on their mother’s side, are also dealing with depression. Her father, Brian Wilson, also suffers from schizoaffective disorder.
“I’ve seen him really overcome so much, and just overcome so much,” she says, “I love more than anything in the world. He’s gone through so much, but he’s the strongest guy I know. I mean, he’s really the strongest guy.”
She encourages people with mental health concerns and symptoms of conditions like TD to check out from the experts.
“My dad was looking for help with his mental illness. He’s in a great place,” she says. “He found the right medicine for him that helped his own depression, a voice in his head. I find many similarities to me. I see myself in him in many ways.
Like a father, like a daughter.