Journal Policies

Frequency of the Journal

The Pakistan Journal of Mental Health follows a biannual publication frequency, releasing two issues each year. This schedule allows the journal to maintain a steady flow of high-quality research while ensuring rigorous peer review and editorial standards. Through its biannual issues, the journal provides an important platform for mental health professionals, researchers, and scholars to share contemporary findings and contribute to the advancement of mental health knowledge in Pakistan.

Peer Review Policy
The Pakistan Journal of Mental Health follows a double-blind peer review process to ensure fairness, transparency, and academic integrity. All submitted manuscripts undergo initial editorial screening for relevance, originality, and ethical compliance before being sent to at least two independent expert reviewers. Reviewers evaluate the manuscript’s quality, methodological rigor, clarity, and contribution to the field of mental health. Based on reviewers’ recommendations, the editorial team decides whether to accept, revise, or reject the submission. The journal maintains strict confidentiality throughout the process and expects reviewers to follow ethical standards, avoid conflicts of interest, and provide constructive, unbiased feedback.

Originality and Plagiarism Policy

The Pakistan Journal of Mental Health maintains a strict plagiarism policy to ensure the integrity of published research. Any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, will not be tolerated. Authors are expected to adhere to ethical guidelines and provide original work. The journal employs plagiarism detection software to screen submitted manuscripts for any instances of similarity to previously published material. If plagiarism is detected, the manuscript will be rejected, and appropriate action may be taken against the author(s).

Subscription details

The Pakistan Journal of Mental Health offers annual subscriptions for both individual readers and institutions, providing access to its biannual issues that publish original research, reviews, and scholarly work in the field of mental health. Subscriptions can typically be obtained through the journal’s editorial office or official website, with options for print copies, online access, or a combined package. Rates vary for local and international subscribers, and institutional packages often include multiple-user access. Subscribers receive all issues published within the year along with updates on upcoming editions and calls for papers.

Ethical guidelines

The Pakistan Journal of Mental Health adheres to strict ethical standards to ensure integrity, transparency, and quality in scholarly publishing. Authors must ensure that all submitted work is original, free from plagiarism, and accurately represents data and findings. Research involving human participants must follow international ethical norms, including informed consent, confidentiality, and approval from an accredited ethics review board. The journal prohibits duplicate publication, data fabrication, falsification, and any form of academic misconduct. Conflicts of interest must be clearly declared by authors, reviewers, and editors. Reviewers are expected to provide fair, objective, and timely evaluations while maintaining confidentiality. Editors must make impartial decisions based solely on academic merit and ethical considerations.

Privacy Statement

The Pakistan Journal of Mental Health is committed to protecting the privacy of its users. We collect and use personal information only as necessary to provide our services and ensure the integrity of our journal. We adhere to strict data protection standards and have implemented appropriate security measures to safeguard your information. By submitting your personal information to us, you consent to our collection and use of your data in accordance with this privacy statement. For more details, please refer to our full privacy policy.

Publication Policy

The Pakistan Journal of Mental Health adheres to a rigorous publication policy to ensure the quality and integrity of its content. Submissions are peer-reviewed by experts in the field, and the journal follows ethical guidelines for authorship, plagiarism, and conflict of interest. The journal prioritizes original research that contributes to the advancement of mental health knowledge and practice in Pakistan. Authors are expected to adhere to the journal's formatting guidelines and provide clear and concise writing. The publication process involves multiple stages, including initial review, peer review, editorial decision-making, and production. The journal aims to provide a timely and transparent publication process for authors.

Deadlines and Publication Process

The Pakistan Journal of Mental Health follows a structured publication timeline to maintain efficiency and academic rigor. Manuscripts are accepted year-round, with an initial desk screening completed within 1–2 weeks of submission. Papers that pass this stage are sent for double-blind peer review, which typically takes 4–6 weeks, followed by 2–3 weeks for authors to revise and resubmit based on reviewers’ comments. Final acceptance decisions are usually communicated within 8–10 weeks from the initial submission. Once accepted, articles undergo copyediting, proofing, and formatting, a process that takes an additional 3–4 weeks. The journal publishes two issues annually, and accepted papers are scheduled for publication in the nearest upcoming issue based on readiness and editorial priority. Overall, the complete timeline from submission to publication generally ranges from 3–4 months, depending on the speed of revisions and reviewer availability.

All authors contributing to a manuscript submitted to the Pakistan Journal of Mental Health must confirm that they have made a significant scholarly contribution to the research, including involvement in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or manuscript drafting and revision. Each author is required to approve the final version of the paper and consent to its submission for publication, ensuring full agreement with its content and conclusions. Authors must also confirm that no individual who contributed substantially has been omitted and that the order of authorship has been mutually agreed upon. By providing consent, all authors accept collective responsibility for the integrity, originality, and ethical conduct of the research.