The Journal of Mental Health and Psychiatry (JMHP) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and scholarly excellence in scientific publishing. Our editorial policies are designed to ensure fair and rigorous peer review, uphold ethical practices, and foster open access to research that advances global understanding of mental health and psychiatric care.

1. Editorial Independence

JMHP operates under the principle of complete editorial independence. Editorial decisions are made solely based on the academic merit, originality, and relevance of submissions, without influence from financial interests, institutional affiliations, or external pressures.

2. Peer Review Standards

• Rigorous Evaluation: All manuscripts undergo an initial screening by the editorial office to ensure compliance with the journal’s scope and ethical guidelines.
• Double-Blind Review: To maintain fairness, both author and reviewer identities remain confidential throughout the process.
• Reviewer Expertise: Peer reviewers are selected based on their subject expertise and track record in mental health, psychiatry, psychology, or related disciplines.
• Transparency of Decision: Authors receive constructive feedback along with a clear editorial decision (accept, revise, or reject).

3. Authorship and Contribution

JMHP follows internationally recognized authorship guidelines. Authors must:

• Meet the criteria for substantial intellectual contribution to the study.
• Ensure accuracy of all data, analyses, and interpretations.
• Provide a transparent statement of individual contributions.
• Disclose potential conflicts of interest.

4. Ethical Considerations

The journal adheres to the highest ethical standards for research and publication, in line with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) principles.

• Human and Animal Studies: Research involving human participants must include informed consent and ethical clearance from an institutional review board. Animal studies must follow internationally accepted care and use guidelines.
• Plagiarism and Misconduct: Submissions are screened for plagiarism and duplicate publication. Any form of data fabrication, falsification, or unethical conduct will result in rejection or retraction.
• Conflict of Interest: Authors, editors, and reviewers must declare any conflicts that could influence objectivity.

5. Open Access and Licensing

JMHP is an open-access journal, ensuring that published content is freely available to the global community. Authors retain copyright, while granting JMHP the right to disseminate their work under a Creative Commons license. This approach promotes knowledge sharing and maximizes research visibility.

6. Editorial Board Responsibilities

• Scientific Integrity: Board members oversee the quality of the review process and promote ethical research practices.
• Decision-Making: The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with Associate Editors and reviewers, makes the final decision on all submissions.
• Continuous Improvement: Policies and processes are regularly reviewed to maintain best practices in publishing.

7. Appeals and Complaints

JMHP provides authors the opportunity to appeal editorial decisions if they believe due process was not followed. Complaints related to peer review, ethical concerns, or conflicts will be handled promptly and transparently by the editorial office in line with COPE recommendations.

8. Corrections and Retractions

To preserve the scientific record:

• Corrections/Errata are issued for minor errors that do not affect overall conclusions.
• Retractions are published for serious issues such as data falsification, plagiarism, or major ethical breaches.
• Expressions of Concern may be issued when investigations are ongoing.

9. Commitment to Diversity and Equity

JMHP actively promotes diversity in research, authorship, editorial leadership, and reviewer selection. The journal values inclusivity across disciplines, geographic regions, and perspectives to enrich scientific dialogue in psychiatry and mental health.

10. Transparency and Accountability

All editorial processes are carried out with full transparency, ensuring that authors, reviewers, and readers have confidence in the credibility of the journal. The editorial office maintains a clear audit trail of decisions, reviews, and communications for accountability.

Through this editorial policy, JMHP reaffirms its mission to serve as a trusted platform for advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and supporting global collaboration in the fields of mental health and psychiatry.