Post by University of California, Berkeley

Content note: This post includes references to self-harm and mental health challenges, which may be distressing to some readers. If you or someone you know is struggling, text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 support. “Action is my coping mechanism.” It’s not a slogan. It’s a deep personal truth. While earning her doctorate at UC Berkeley, Wendy Marie Ingram (PhD ’15, Molecular and Cell Biology) began noticing cracks in the system around her: peers struggling silently, even mentors burning out. Then came the loss that changed everything. After a fellow graduate student died by suicide, Wendy attended a departmental candlelight vigil — an evening that became a turning point. Surrounded by grieving peers, she realized how many were carrying the same fear, confusion and unanswered questions. That day, she understood that waiting for change wasn’t an option. What began as small, vulnerable conversations inside her department eventually grew into Dragonfly Mental Health, a global nonprofit she co-founded to transform how academic communities care for their people. Grounded in research and lived experience, Wendy built a framework rooted in peer connection, leadership training and cultural change. As she puts it: “Healthy labs do better science. Healthy classrooms do better teaching. Healthy advising produces better careers.” Dragonfly strengthens mental health in academia through evidence-based workshops, leadership training and practical tools that help communities notice, speak up, connect and respond when it matters. Their goal: building sustainable well-being into the fabric of academic life. Looking ahead, she’s clear about what to focus on: “Stay disciplined about what works. Train people well. Lift peers to the next level. Embed best practices inside departments. Resource the work early and adequately.” She wants institutions to treat mental health “as part of the work rather than an add on,” and to create pathways that don’t require “heroic silence.” As she puts it: “It’s no longer ‘someone should do something.’ It’s ‘I have to do something. Who’s with me?’” #UCBerkeley #CalAlumStory