Research Topic: Developing A Culture Of Wellbeing For Open-source Projects – The Galaxy Community As A Use Case.

             “WELLBEING INSPIRES WELLDOING”
                   “Openness sparks innovation”

What are Open-source projects?

Open-source project means anybody is free to use, study, modify and distribute their projects for any purpose. Open source not only prevents the few from deciding for the many: Products made by more people lead to products that are closer to what users want. Four engineers in a room can make an amazing app but four thousand around the world can change entire systems.

Wellbeing in the context of open-source project community members?

It involves enabling community members to follow their passion, that is, what excites them as well as motivates them. This will enable them to connect, be active, keep learning, take notice and give for the project.

“Community wellbeing is the combination of social, economic, environmental, cultural, and political conditions identified by individuals and their communities as essential for them to flourish and fulfill their potential.”

Examples of other open-source communities include: Mozilla firefox, Linux operating system, Android by Google and Open office.

Using a practical example to demonstrate how the culture of wellbeing is being managed. Use Case: Firefox - Firefox instituted the following to help community members

Firstly, Mozilla uses the Mozilla manifesto to protect the wellbeing of members which include.

• Where they are committed to an internet that includes all the peoples of the earth — where a person’s demographic characteristics do not determine their online access, opportunities, or quality of experience.

• Where they are committed to an internet that promotes civil discourse, human dignity, and individual expression.

• Where they are committed to an internet that elevates critical thinking, reasoned argument, shared knowledge, and verifiable facts.

Secondly, Mozilla has different programs open to all with the goals of promoting openness and opportunity on the Internet

These programs include.

• The Mozilla Reps (ReMo) program which aims to empower and support volunteer Mozillians who want to become official representatives of Mozilla in their region/local. The Mozilla Stewards are members of teams who are working with Contributor Engagement to create and execute a plan for bringing in volunteers to Mozilla.

• The Mozilla Brain Builders program which aims to capture and distribute knowledge to give Mozillians the expertise needed to successfully contribute.

• The MozCamp program mentors which aims to train core contributors to help us bring our products to market and bolster our efforts to recruit new contributors in region.

What then is Mental Health?

The World Health Organization (WHO) conceptualizes mental health as a “state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.

Some existing mental-health self-assessment tools they include

Depression

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) This is a 9-question tool that can help you begin to explore whether the feelings, thoughts or behaviors you may be experiencing could be depression. It can also help you monitor the severity of your depression and your response to treatment. If you believe you may be suffering from symptoms of depression, talk to your doctor.

Anxiety

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) This is a 7-question tool that can help you begin to explore whether the feelings, thoughts or behaviors you may be experiencing could be anxiety. It can also help you monitor the severity of your anxiety and your response to treatment. If you believe you may be suffering from symptoms of anxiety, talk to your doctor.

Sleep

Insomnia Severity Index This is a 7-question tool that assesses your current sleeping habits and problems you may have related to your sleep. It can help you begin to explore the role that sleep and possible sleep problems play in your daily life. If you are having trouble sleeping or if you believe you may be suffering symptoms of depression, talk to your doctor. Together, you can determine the right treatment plan for you.

Sleep Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ)

This is a 6-question tool that can help you keep track of the amount of sleep you get each day, as well as your sleepiness throughout the day. If you are having trouble sleeping or if you believe you may be suffering symptoms of depression, talk to your doctor. Together, you can determine the right treatment plan for you.

Substance Use

CAGE: A tool for evaluating the signs of substance abuse This is a 4-question tool that can help you determine whether you may be displaying the signs of substance abuse or dependency. If you think you might have a problem with drugs or alcohol, talk to your doctor. Together, you can determine the right treatment plan for you. CAGE Tool

Ref: depressioncenter.org/toolkit/im-looking-mor...

The Galaxy project being an open source, web-based platform for data intensive biomedical research needs to ensure the proper health and wellness of its members. Some of the programs that help to encourage these are

The interactive communities that the Galaxy project offers such as Conda and Bioconda, Open Life Science, Outreachy, Bioconductor, F1000Research, These communities give a wide scope of programs to members of the galaxy project where they can make choices on which programs to engage in that will best suit their end goals

Secondly with an interactive platform like the OUTREACHY, it gives a platform which enhances the voices of people subject to systemic bias and impacted by underrepresentation in the technical industry where they live.

With the Open life science platform, participants of this program learn essential knowledge required to create, lead, and sustain an Open Science project, connect with members across different communities, backgrounds, and identities by sharing their experiences and expertise. This is just to outline a few

One other amazing platform is the CoFest, that the Galaxy project organizes with aim of welcoming new contributors and helping them learn the resources that will help them contribute as well as expanding the Galaxy ecosystem.

In spite of all these I still think there’s a lot to be done with regards to not just the mental wellness of members of the galaxy community but also making the platform secured too which gives room to looking at it from 2 ways; First of from the platform itself and secondly for the community members

To begin with, the galaxy platform can have a Questionnaire form which community members can use to evaluate the platform. This questionnaire form can pop up from time to time to inquire on the user’s experience.

Secondly, in addition to the Cofest which the galaxy community has in place they can include a family day/ an open house event day preferably online where participants can win small, branded gifts. This will go along way to make them feel at home as well as boost the morale of the members of the community.

Thirdly, creating support groups for members as well. Here members can join and encourage each other with respect to what they are contributing to. These support groups will act as a safe space for members.

Fourthly they can have help lines which people can call in and get help if they need one or when they feel any form of distress during or after their time on the platform.

Moreover, carrying out campaigns on mental wellness on the platform is a good idea. This will go a long way create awareness.

Lastly just like the Moxilla team, the Galaxy team can also come out with stringent rules which can be added to their already existing code of conduct to protect community members from being bullied or harassed online.