Dragonfly’s Comprehensive Framework builds on the foundation of our five domains of excellence, each of which are required for fundamental and sustainable culture change. These domains include: Wellness Committees, Peer-networks, Anti-stigma efforts, Mental Health Literacy, and Skills Training; and each domain is then further broken down into five distinct measurable and actionable elements that support excellent mental health and/or prevent unnecessary stressors. In combination, we believe that this evidence based 25-point framework is necessary and sufficient to support the excellent mental health of any academic community.
While we continue to test this framework in an ongoing multi-year pilot with UC Berkeley, we currently offer four modules designed to assist academic communities depending on their community commitment and readiness for change. We have putative price points for each of four modules, but these are not yet firm.
Modules
Everyone starts somewhere, and this is the perfect first step. Using our evidence based assessment tools we can discover where you are in your journey, explore your community specific perceptions and priorities, and advise you on which high-impact steps you should take next to improve mental health at your institution.
- Conduct and summarize two surveys:
- 25-point Dragonfly Framework Assessment
- Community perceptions and priorities
- Create a clear roadmap for high-impact improvement
Training and support for the implementation of two of our five domains of excellence:
- Wellness Committee
Sometimes the hardest part is knowing where to start. We recommend establishing a departmental wellness committee dedicated to improving the mental health of your community. This committee should be made up of representatives from all levels within your academic community, and will serve as an ongoing driving force for systemic and sustainable culture change for years to come.
- Peer-Networks
No one understands the unique challenges of an individual department like peers in the same position. Establishment of peer mental health networks will result in sustainable peer-led organizations that can identify and address unmet needs, serve as an organized voice for concerns, and promote preventative mental health practices among and unique to each peer group.
What we do:
- Provide on-line tutorial sessions to help design sustainable and efficient organization
- Identify appropriate affinity groups based on career level (i.e. Masters students, PhD students, Postdocs, Faculty, Staff) or other identities of interest
- Provide regularly scheduled support as well as a free online platform for collaboration and communication with other peer networks
- Fully customizable to your unique needs
Stigma has caused many academics experiencing mental health struggles to fear judgement by mentors and colleagues, leading to a belief that they can never be successful in academia by virtue of not "having what it takes." In order to fight this stigma, we create a safe space for respected members of your academic community to share what is typically left undiscussed and yet is an integral part of what makes an academic feel successful and fulfilled.
This service includes the scheduling, filming, and editing of a tailor-made film for YOUR community to help fight stigma against those struggling with mental health issues.
What this campaign includes:
- Custom film interviewing members of your community:
- Sharing their own lived experiences with mental health struggles
- How these struggles impacted their work and how they got through them
- What advice they have for others, especially early career researchers
- 60 minute seminar
- 10-20 minute film screening
- small group reflections
- large group expert facilitated discussion
- Post-talk survey assesses the impact of the event on stigma and attitudes
- These are most impactful when tailored to the community at hand
- We offer both high production value and budget options
- Requires at least 6 weeks lead time to allow for filming, editing, and event preparation
Click here to see a "Breaking the Stigma" video!
This three day "Train the Trainer" workshop includes mentorship and custom training on our workshop series (below) and is designed to generate community-based facilitators capable of training their replacements, thereby creating internal sustainability and ensuring programs will be delivered with fidelity year after year.
Audiences: Faculty, Staff, Postdocs, Graduates, Undergraduates
Who will be trained to facilitate and train others? Faculty, Staff, Postdocs, Graduate Students
Prerequisites:
- Coursera Psychological First Aid (5 hours, self-paced)
- Dragonfly Mental Health Accessibility training video (40 min)
- Watch/shadow Dragonfly Mental Health Program of choice/training
Workshop Series: Custom week of workshops delivered to graduate students, undergraduates, postdocs, faculty and staff covering five (5) critical topics:
- Mental Health Literacy - talk
- Basics of Burnout - talk
- Practical Tools to Address and Prevent Burnout - talk
- Managing Upwards Skills - workshop
- Active Listening Skills - workshop
Alternative topics include:
- A Scientist’s Primer on Depression – talk
- Mental Health in Isolation - talk
- Imposter Phenomenon – talk
- Academia-related Immigration and Mental Health – talk
- Power Abuse in Academia, What can we do? - talk
- Mentoring as a Two-Way Street – talk
- Neurodiversity in Academia - talk
- Managing Inwards - Workshop (2 hours)
- Practical Tools for Wellbeing in Academia – Part 1 and 2 (90 min each) - workshops
Costs: Institutions may hire us to deliver a three-day workshop on their own campus (or nearby) for between 5 and 25 people for $35,000. Travel and accommodations included for one Dragonfly facilitator.
Departments may send individuals to a Dragonfly three-day training weekend in Florida for $2500 tuition. Travel and accommodations not included. Estimated accommodation and meals cost $1000/person.
What People are Saying
“I think it’s important that the department demonstrates a commitment to recognizing people’s struggles with mental health and does tangible things so that everybody can feel safe and included.”
~Anastasiya Trzcinski, Graduate Student and Wellness Committee Member, UC Berkeley
“At that time, it became even more clear that this was something that was necessary for us to respond to in a comprehensive way.”
~ Professor Matt Welch, UC Berkeley
“What I really commend Dragonfly for doing is that they’re taking this series of tragedies (suicides) and identifying that people didn’t know how to respond, even in positions of power."
~ Andrew Devendorf, Clincal Psychologist and Postdoctoral Fellow
“Dragonfly’s work has been invaluable, having a profound positive impact on our department by improving awareness and acceptance of mental health challenges faced by many in our community”
~Professor Matt Welch, UC Berkeley
“As a senior scientist, with tenure, I have nothing to lose by anyone thinking less of me as one who was depressed, and plenty to gain by sharing my experience. In fact, I have only received positive feedback since I was featured in the movie. As one who survived and prospered despite periods of depression, I think it’s useful to share my experience, that it is not a permanent condition, that one can recognize depressive episodes, and seek effective treatment.”
~Richard Harland PhD, Film Participant, UC Berkeley, Dean of Biological Sciences
“I learned a lot and got a chance to have meaningful discussions with my colleagues.”
“I think that showing how very successful scientists have struggled and continue to struggle with mental health issues is a powerful way to say that mental illness is not a sign of weakness, nor does it preclude success.”
“It was amazing to be among so many people who are passionate about improving the academic community in and outside of Berkeley through spreading awareness and educating other about mental health in academia."
"Very helpful to have a space to practice with a supportive audience and get feedback.”
“Hearing others' responses, especially Dragonfly staff, gave me a solid idea of what is expected (when presenting).”
“I know (other) community members who are eager to take the training themselves and pass the knowledge on to others.”
"Having built-in support (for this) through the department/wellness committee is huge."