On 19 January, at the request of the SNSF, the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs (DHA) decided to terminate the National Centre of Competence in Research sesam as per 30 September 2009 and approved a one year wind-down phase.
Health and wellbeing are two of society’s most precious commodities. The rapid rise in emotional disorders (such as anxiety, depression, addiction and youth violence) is a growing cause for concern. According to World Health Organization estimates, depression will be the second most important cause of health impairment and premature death by 2020.
The National Centre of Competence in Research "sesam – Swiss Etiological Study of Adjustment and Mental Health" aims to uncover the complex factors that influence the development of mental health over a person’s lifetime. It will identify the psychological, social and genetic-biological variables through behavioural observations, surveys, interviews and biological analyses. This requires, among other things, the detection of the correlation between genetic factors and mental disorders within a larger sample group. To this end, the NCCR sesam will study a sample of 3'000 children along with their parents and grandparents, from the 20th week of pregnancy to early adulthood.
The evaluation of the data will be carried out anonymously at a group level and will focus on the interaction between the influencing factors.
The NCCR sesam will investigate the formative years of a person’s life when personality takes shape and mental health problems appear, taking psychosocial, genetic and environmental factors into consideration. By integrating the research findings into prevention and treatment efforts, the NCCR sesam will directly contribute to better mental health promotion.
The NCCR sesam adheres to a stringent ethical standard and legal provisions relating to privacy and data protection are guaranteed. In addition, all necessary permits, authorizations and approvals from authorities will be acquired before the start of the individual research projects. As with all other research projects, participation is voluntary and those involved may withdraw from the study at any time.
Finances
Years 2005 – 2008:
CHF 22'755'786 (SNSF funding: 10'200'000; Self-/3rd-party-funding: 12'555'786)