Epidemiology, Mental Health and Addictions

ESSMA (Ex-ERES)
Judith VAN DER WAERDEN

The ESSMA Team (Social Epidemiology, Mental Health, and Addictions) conducts epidemiological research on the social determinants of health, social health inequalities, and access to care, particularly in the areas of mental health, addictions, and experiences of violence.

Publications

Team presentation

Established in 2025, ESSMA builds on the work of the Social Epidemiology Research Team (ERES), founded in 2014. Our research is structured around three main themes that reflect the expertise of the team members:

  1. Intergenerational Transmission of Social Inequalities and Mental Health
  2. Addictions
  3. Experiences of Violence and Traumatic Events

Using a multidisciplinary approach, these themes are explored through several cross-cutting topics:

  • Social Determinants of Health: We aim to identify social risks related to political and economic dynamics, as well as access to essential resources (food, housing, energy). Our work seeks to identify new at-risk populations and analyze their health impacts at both individual and population levels.
  • Health Inequalities among Children and Adolescents: We study the interaction of societal, family, and individual factors contributing to health inequalities from an early age, focusing on modifiable factors to develop prevention strategies.
  • Equitable Access to Healthcare Services: We approach access to care through the lens of equity, particularly at the intersection of sectors such as education and employment, with a specific emphasis on primary care.
  • Evaluation of Social and Family Policies: We assess the impact of social and family policies on the health of family members and on social inequalities, particularly for children.
  • Participatory Preventive Interventions: We develop preventive and therapeutic approaches grounded in personal, social, and systemic factors influencing mental health and addiction risks, with a focus on vulnerable groups, especially children and adolescents.
  • Our research focuses on the life trajectories of individuals from the perinatal period to adulthood, with particular attention to vulnerable populations (youth, pregnant women, people in precarious situations, homeless individuals, and migrants). ESSMA benefits from long-standing collaborations with clinicians (in primary care, psychiatry, and HIV), social scientists (in sociology, geography, and political science), and biostatisticians, both within IPLESP and externally, fostering a multidisciplinary research environment.Our team provides public health expertise on key topics and contributes through publications, national and international working groups, and collaborations with academic and community partners. These efforts help guide the practices of professionals and public health policies.Our various works are referenced on our website and are also showcased on the SoEpidemio blog.