Ing-Marie Wieselgrens Stiftelse

The challenge

Mental health is one of the most pressing and complex societal challenges of our time.
Despite growing awareness and knowledge, efforts to promote mental well-being and prevent suffering remain fragmented, reactive, and unevenly distributed. Children, young people, and adults in need of support often fall through the cracks—sometimes with devastating consequences.

Stigma persists. Support systems are stretched thin. And too often, change is delayed by outdated structures, lack of collaboration, or a failure to listen to those most affected.

Turning challenge into opportunity

Ing-Marie Wieselgren’s Foundation is a commitment from her family to carry her life’s work forward. Ing-Marie was the psychiatrist who became a national mental health coordinator, and for decades she led the development of mental health in Sweden with passion, persistence, and compassion.

She believed in the power of prevention, in the importance of listening, and in the necessity of structural change. She saw both the individual in front of her and the systems that needed transformation. Every year, she returned to her clinical roots at Uppsala University Hospital to stay grounded in real-life psychiatry – a symbol of her belief that policy must stay connected to practice.

The foundation supports initiatives that reflect Ing-Marie’s spirit – bold, boundary-breaking, and grounded in the belief that real change is possible. It welcomes individuals, communities, and organizations that dare to rethink the way society addresses mental health and that act with determination and hope.

Particular focus is placed on efforts that support children, young people, and emerging adults. The foundation believes that every child and young person has the right to be seen, heard, and supported – and that mental health is not just a healthcare issue, but a matter of democracy, dignity, and equal opportunity.

True to Ing-Marie’s legacy, the foundation acts with both urgency and humility. It challenges outdated ways of working, invites cross-sector dialogue, and strives to be a forceful yet constructive voice for those who are too often overlooked.