Submission Guidelines

These Guidelines complement and detail the information provided in the Submissions section of this Journal. 

As for the first 10 articles published, we do not charge the TRC/APC (please check the conditions here) - we ask each of the authors of the submitted article to make a peer review of at least two other articles in the journal. To do so, in your Dashboard, select, in addition to the role "Author", the role "Reviewer". By doing so, you will appear in the internal list of reviewers and will be visible to the editorial team.

We accept submissions in English; the US version is accepted if the authors are based in the USA. Otherwise, we request that you use UK English.

You can submit your work to one of the following Sections: 

Additionally, your article can be assigned one or several Categories: 

These lists are not exhaustive and only indicative to help readers with the navigation; you can offer us your ideas and proposals regarding developing the new sections and categories of publications: editor@mentalhealthopen.eu 

Each article submitted must adhere to the basic structure outlined above: 

*Note: Title, Author Details, Abstract, and References are not included in the word count. 

Editorials, Open Letters, Policy Papers, Conceptual Insights & Critical Reflections, Lived Experience Insights, and Book Reviews, if justified by the topic and needs, can diverge from the proposed structure. 

Compliance with the reporting guidelines is obligatory for Research Articles, Reviews, Meta-Analyses, and Case Studies. We will analyse such compliance during the technical check, and if the authors fail to adhere to the relevant reporting guidelines, the article will be rejected. We encourage you to use the Equator Network to look for the relevant guidelines and checklists. 

Author Details

When submitting your manuscript, please include the following information for each author:

1. Full Name: Write the author’s full name in the format: First Name Middle Initial (if any) Last Name

2. Affiliation: Provide the full institutional affiliation, including department, university or organization name, city, and country. Example: Department of Mental Health, University of Westeros, King’s Landing, Westeros. Do not include the position, as during the application, there will be a separate field for your short Bio. 

3. ORCID ID: Include a valid ORCID iD for each author. Authors without one should register at orcid.org..

4. Corresponding Author (if applicable): Indicate clearly who the corresponding author is and provide their preferred contact details.

Abstract

For Research Articles, Reviews, Meta-Analyses, and Case Studies, it is required to use the structured abstract with such elements: 

• Background – Briefly outline the problem or gap addressed.

• Objectives – State the primary aim(s) or research questions.

• Methods – Summarise study design, participants, setting, and key analytical methods. Add the statement about the Reporting Guideline that was used. 

• Results – Present main findings, including relevant data.

• Conclusions – Highlight interpretations, significance, and implications.

Use clear, concise, and objective language. Avoid unexplained abbreviations or jargon. Ensure each section heading is bolded or clearly labelled. Write in the past tense. Do not cite references in the abstract.

For the Editorials, Open Letters, Policy Papers, Conceptual Insights & Critical Reflections, Lived Experience Insights, and Book Reviews, you should use the unstructured, concise, single-paragraph abstract that introduces the work and summarises its purpose, scope, and significance.

General Guidelines:

• Tone: Clear, engaging, and accessible to both academic and practitioner audiences

• Structure: One paragraph (no section headings)

Your abstract should:

• Briefly state the purpose or intent of the piece

• Indicate its main argument, message, or perspective

• Highlight any key concepts, frameworks, or positions discussed

• For Policy Papers, mention any policy recommendation(s) or implications

• For Book Reviews, identify the book title/author and evaluate its relevance and contribution

Do not include citations, references, or line breaks. Use plain language where possible, especially in pieces aimed at broader audiences. Examples of openers:

• This editorial reflects on...

• In this paper, the author argues...

• This policy note explores...

• This review critically examines...

In all cases, keep your abstract between 200 and 300 words.

Policy Papers, Conceptual Insights & Critical Reflections, Research Articles, Reviews, Meta-Analyses, and Case Studies must be accompanied by such additional elements (after the Conclusion section): 

• Ethical Statement - An ethical statement in an academic article outlines the ethical considerations and principles followed during the research and publication process. It typically includes details about obtaining informed consent from participants, ensuring confidentiality, addressing conflicts of interest, and complying with ethical guidelines set by institutions or professional organisations. 

• Data Availability Statement - A Data Availability Statement provides information about where and how the data supporting the findings of a study can be accessed. It ensures transparency and reproducibility by specifying whether the data is publicly available, restricted due to privacy or ethical concerns, or accessible upon request. The statement should include relevant links or DOIs to facilitate access.

• Funding - A funding statement acknowledges financial support received for the research. It typically includes the name of the funding organisation, grant number (if applicable), and a brief description of how the funding contributed to the study. If multiple sources provided funding, they should be listed separately.

• Competing Interests - All authors must disclose any competing interests that could influence, or be perceived to influence, their work. If there are none, please include the sentence: “The authors declare no competing interests.” Examples of competing interests include: Financial support from organisations with an interest in the outcome; Personal relationships, affiliations, or rivalries; Employment or consultancies that may affect objectivity; Stock ownership, patents, or royalties. Be specific. If any competing interests exist, describe them clearly. This statement will be published with the article to ensure transparency.

• Authors' Contribution - To ensure transparency and accountability in scholarly publishing, all submitted manuscripts must include an Authors' Contribution section. This section should clearly outline the specific roles and responsibilities of each author involved in the research and manuscript preparation. Please use the CRediT taxonomy to describe the roles. 
• Use of AI technologies - Authors must disclose any use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the preparation of their manuscript. This includes the use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, automated data analysis platforms, or image generation software. The disclosure should specify the name of the AI tool used, the purpose for which it was employed (e.g., language editing, data visualisation, statistical modelling), and the extent of its contribution to the manuscript. All AI-assisted content must be reviewed and validated by the authors to ensure accuracy and integrity. Authors remain fully responsible for the originality and reliability of the work, and AI tools cannot be listed as authors. The use of AI must comply with ethical standards, privacy regulations, and the journal’s policies.
• Acknowledgement - The acknowledgement section is used to express gratitude to individuals, institutions, or organisations that contributed to the research. This may include mentors, colleagues, funding agencies, research assistants, or even family members who provided support. The tone should be professional and respectful, ensuring that contributions are recognised appropriately.
• All the sections must be included in the publications of all other types, if required, or requested by the Editors. 

References: 

For the in-text citations, please use APA style. Examples:

• According to Smith (2020), mental health policies have a significant impact.

• Research suggests mental health support is essential (Doe, 2021).

Use the same APA style for the Reference List. Include a DOI for each publication you listed. If the publication doesn't have a DOI, include the direct link. 

Figures: 

Ensure figures are high-resolution. Figures should be appropriately sized with clear labels and legible text. Assign a sequential number to each figure and title (e.g., Figure 1. Representation of... ). All figures must be embedded within the text of the article, with appropriate referencing in the text (e.g., "As shown in Figure 2..."). Include a copyright note below the figure, specifying whether it is "From" or "Adapted from" the source if the figure is not of your authorship and you have permission to use it in your work.

Tables: 

Ensure tables are well-organised, with clear headings and logical data arrangement. Use a consistent style, avoiding excessive borders or shading. Tables should be easy to read and fit within the journal’s layout. Assign sequential numbers (e.g., Table 1, Table 2) and provide concise, descriptive titles above each table. Ensure numerical values are aligned properly, and include units where necessary. Add explanatory notes below the table to clarify abbreviations or statistical significance. If a table is adapted or reproduced from another source, provide proper citation and copyright acknowledgement.

Mention tables within the text (e.g., "As shown in Table 3..."). Tables should be placed close to the relevant text.

Annexes: 

All annexes and supplementary materials should be compiled into a single document, separate from the main article. Clearly label each section (e.g., "Annex A: Additional Data," "Supplementary Table 1"). Ensure formatting is consistent with the main article, including font, spacing, and numbering. If supplementary materials include figures or tables, they should be referenced appropriately within the main text.

If annexes or supplementary materials exceed the journal’s file size limit, they should be deposited in an open-access database. Authors must provide a direct link to the repository where the materials are stored. Recommended repositories include institutional databases, EC-supported Zenodo, or other open-access platforms. In the main article, include a statement such as: "Supplementary materials, including extended datasets and additional figures, are available at [repository link]." Ensure the repository allows unrestricted access and provides a DOI or permanent identifier for citation.

• Preferred formats: PDF for documents, CSV for datasets, and PNG/TIFF for images.

• Ensure materials are well-organised and easy to navigate.

• Provide a README file explaining the dataset's contents and usage of supplementary materials.

Submission Format: 

The submission must be in Microsoft Word .docx format. 

Use Times New Roman, 12-point font, and double-spacing throughout. Maintain 1-inch margins on all sides. Number all pages consecutively.

Re-Submission: 

Please provide the file with the necessary revisions (use track changes to indicate modifications ) for resubmission after the review, ensuring clarity, coherence, and completeness. Provide a response letter for each reviewer, list each comment, and explain how you addressed it in the revised manuscript. If you disagree with a comment, provide a well-reasoned explanation in your response letter. After that, upload the revised manuscript along with the response letter. Your response letter will be published with the article's updated version. 

Submission Process

• Submit the manuscript via the journal’s online submission system.

• Ensure all required documents are included.

• If supplementary materials are deposited externally, provide a clear reference and access link.

Please note that several types of publications will not be submitted to peer review, and will be reviewed only by Editors — namely, Editorial, Open Letters and Lived Experience Insights. However, all are welcome to register on the journal's website as a Reviewer and send the request to the Editor to be a peer reviewer for all types of published text.