FAQ
MAKO stands for Mannheim Incidence and Cohort Study. Our aim is to find out how many people in Mannheim are affected by a serious mental illness for the first time in their lives. We also want to investigate what life circumstances and experiences are associated with whether someone becomes mentally ill. The study is also about positive mental health such as life satisfaction, happiness and well-being.
"Incidence" refers to newly occurring cases of disease. In the corresponding part of our MAKO study, we examine the "treated incidence", i.e. we survey people who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness for the first time in their lives and/or are receiving professional treatment for the first time in 2024/2025.
These serious mental illnesses include:
- major depression,
- bipolar disorder,
- psychotic disorders,
- borderline personality disorder
You are also eligible for the "incidence" section of the study if you had symptoms before 2024 but did not seek treatment until 2024/2025 or if you have already received treatment for a mental illness other than your current one in the past.
People between the ages of 14 and 64 can participate in this part of the study.
"Cohort" refers to a population group with the same characteristics. People who are eligible for our "cohort" part of the study have in common that they live in Mannheim, are between 14 and 35 years old and (in contrast to the incidence) have not previously suffered from major depression, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder or borderline personality disorder. You can therefore take part in this part of the study regardless of whether you currently
- feel healthy,
- feel stressed, have difficulties dealing with emotions or
- have mild to moderate symptoms of mental illness.
We are interested in how the mental health of participants in the cohort part of the study develops over time, so we will invite you to be interviewed several times every 6 months.
The results of our research should help us to improve our understanding of the risks to our health. Our aim is to improve the planning of treatment services.
In order to be able to make reliable statements about the entire population of Mannheim, it is particularly important to us to include residents from all parts of the city. We also attach great importance to ensuring that people from different cultural, ethnic and individual backgrounds take part in the study.
We are planning for more than 800 Mannheim residents to take part in the study. In order for us to obtain meaningful study results on the development of mental health, every participation is important. In this way, you will help to reflect the different backgrounds and living situations of the Mannheim population and create a scientific basis for the further development of care.
This varies depending on the part of the study and the number of examinations.
You will receive 20 euros for the interview, 20 euros for completing the questionnaires and up to 20 euros for participating in the smartphone survey. In total, you will receive up to 60 euros for participating in one assessment.
If you participate in the "cohort" part of the study, you can take part in an assessment up to five times every six months and receive up to 340 euros in compensation.
The conversation about your mental health and the completion of the questionnaires will each take one and a half to two and a half hours. If you take part in the smartphone survey, you will be asked about your current experiences and how you feel on your cell phone on 6 days. These surveys take a total of around 15 minutes per day.
If you have become aware of MAKO through a letter, we have received your address data from the relevant residents' registration office on the basis of Section 34 of the Federal Registration Act (BGM). Section 46 stipulates that information may be provided about a large number of unnamed persons (group information) if it is in the public interest. As the recording of mental health can represent an important basis for the planning and development of care services, this public interest is given by the purpose of the study. The date of birth was used to determine the composition of the group of people. They were selected at random.
