Wendy Ingram, a renowned researcher, stood at a conference in Germany in 2019, observing the struggles of her peers. She realized that the problems were not isolated to one field or country, but were systemic in academia. This moment marked the beginning of a journey that would lead her to found a global non-profit organization, Dragonfly Mental Health, dedicated to addressing the mental health crisis in academia.
Studies have consistently shown that depression and anxiety are prevalent among early-career researchers. They face numerous challenges, including the need to uproot their lives every few years, limited job prospects, and the pressure to constantly publish research. These factors contribute to a toxic culture in academia, where researchers often feel like they are competing against each other rather than working collaboratively.
Despite the prevalence of mental health issues, researchers often feel stigmatized and unsupported. The lack of resources and services available to them exacerbates the problem. However, in recent years, a grassroots movement has emerged, with researchers and organizations working together to create a more supportive environment.
A Global Coalition
- Dragonfly Mental Health
- A global non-profit organization
- Founded by Wendy Ingram
- Supports researchers and academics worldwide
Dragonfly Mental Health has grown into a coalition of over 450 volunteer academics worldwide. The organization offers workshops, training schemes, and campaigns to raise awareness of mental health provisions in academia. It has delivered over 375 programs to more than 60,000 academics in 32 countries, with 96% of participants recommending the programs to their colleagues.
Evidence-Based Initiatives
Dragonfly’s programs are evidence-led, and the organization has conducted extensive research to develop its initiatives. The efforts focus on five areas:
- Reducing stigma
- Improving mental health literacy
- Improving supportive skills
- Encouraging peer-support networks
- Creating structures across the research enterprise to take responsibility for mental health
The organization has delivered workshops to researchers at institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in New York City. It has also collaborated with other organizations to develop evidence-based initiatives.
Challenging the Culture
The organization’s efforts aim to challenge the toxic culture of academia and promote a more supportive environment. Karin Jensen, a researcher at the University of Michigan, notes that “culture change is the big challenge, and the question is how we move away from the narrative of surviving in academia to one of thriving.”
“Not only are there evidence-based tactics that work, but they are being deployed, and everyone can take advantage of them,” says Wendy Ingram. “Culture change is the big challenge, and the only way it will happen is from the collective actions of many.”
Connecting Efforts
At the 2019 conference, Wendy Ingram realized that grass-roots initiatives were disconnected. She co-founded Dragonfly to join the wisdom from these initiatives into formalized structures.
The organization has connected efforts from researchers worldwide, providing a platform for them to share their experiences and best practices.
Impact and Results
Dragonfly’s programs have had a significant impact on the mental health of researchers. The organization has delivered over 375 programs to more than 60,000 academics in 32 countries, with 96% of participants recommending the programs to their colleagues.
Kevin Mark, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Berkeley, notes that the film about mental health challenges in academia helped him feel more connected to his colleagues and reduced his stigma around mental health issues.
“Viewing a short film about mental health challenges in academia reduced stigma around the topic for 92% of the 149 academics who participated,” says Wendy Ingram.
Dragonfly Mental Health is committed to creating a more supportive environment in academia.
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