The Archives of Psychiatry and Mental Health (APMH) warmly invites researchers, clinicians, educators and policymakers worldwide to submit their manuscripts for consideration. Our open-access, peer-reviewed journal is dedicated to advancing scholarship in child, adolescent and developmental psychiatry and mental health. We accept both unsolicited regular submissions and proposals for special issues. The journal’s predecessor site states: “We invite all the academicians, researchers and medical practitioners to start a special issue within the scope of journal.”

Why Submit to APMH?

Global reach and visibility: Articles are published open access under a CC-BY 4.0 licence, maximising dissemination.
Rigorous peer review: Double-blind review process ensures quality and integrity.
Accelerated publication: The journal prioritises timely handling of manuscripts, supporting rapid communication of findings.
Special issue opportunities: Lead Guest Editors may propose themed collections and work closely with the editorial team.
Inclusivity of authors from diverse settings: Authors from all regions—including low- and middle-income countries—are encouraged to contribute.
Structured support: Clear guidance is provided for submission, peer review and post-publication activities.

What We Are Looking For

APMH invites submissions that align with our mission and focus on children, adolescents and young adults. In particular, we welcome manuscripts that:

Present original empirical research (quantitative, qualitative or mixed-methods) on diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, developmental or translational aspects of youth mental health.
Offer systematic reviews or meta-analyses with clear methodology and relevance to clinical, educational or policy practice.
Describe case reports or case series that highlight novel phenomena, underserved populations or innovative care pathways in youth mental health.
Provide short communications, commentaries, or letters challenging existing paradigms, synthesising emerging data or reflecting practice-change in child/adolescent psychiatry.
Propose or report special issue themes addressing emerging or under-represented areas of psychiatry and mental health—for example, digital interventions in adolescents, climate-related trauma in youth, global mental health disparities, neuroscience of adolescent development, or school-based resilience programmes.

Special Issue Proposals

Authors are encouraged to submit proposals for special issues. As described on the earlier website:

“A Special Issue is a collection of papers focusing on a specific theme within the scope of journal… The Special Issue proposal should be in the following format: Name of the journal; Title of the special issue; Detail information about lead guest editors; Guest editors; Last date for submission; Publication Date; Description; Provisional Paper Listing.” 

Proposals should also align with APMH’s aims and scope and demonstrate thematic coherence. Guest editors will collaborate with the editorial team to invite authors, oversee peer review, and shape publication strategy.

Manuscript Types & Formatting Guidelines

Authors should follow the detailed Guide for Contributors (e.g., abstract structure, word limits). A brief summary of types:

Original Research Article: Typically up to 6000 words (excluding references), structured abstract (≤350 words) and clear implications.
Systematic Review/Meta-analysis: Up to 7000–8000 words, PRISMA-style flow diagram, and full methodological transparency.
Short Communication/Brief Report: Up to 3000 words, focused study, rapid publication.
Case Report/Case Series: Up to 2500 words, include patient consent and ethical approval note.
Commentary/Letter to the Editor: Up to 1500 words; topical, reflective or responsive to published work.

Submission Process

Steps for submission and review:

Prepare manuscript according to formatting guidelines and submit via the journal’s online submission system or by email as specified.
Confirmation of receipt and initial editorial screening for scope, ethics, originality and plagiarism check (e.g., iThenticate as noted on the old site).
Double-blind peer review conducted by at least two independent reviewers. Editorial decision then communicated.
Revision by authors as needed; final acceptance followed by production, proofreading and online publication.

The earlier site notes broad praise from authors for smooth and prompt review: “Submission of paper was smooth, the review process was fast.” :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Key Dates & Publication Schedule

While APMH publishes one annual issue (Volume 8 in 2024), accepted articles may be released online ahead-of-print. Authors are advised to check for special issue deadlines, which may be advertised separately.

Fees, Waivers & Discounts

APMH applies an article processing charge (APC) consistent with open-access publishing. For special issue manuscripts, the old site states an APC of USD 1,799, with discounts for Guest Editors and economically constrained authors. Authors may request waivers or discounts; see the Waiver Policy section for details.

Ethical and Transparency Requirements

All submissions must comply with ethical standards including ethics approval, consent, data transparency and reporting guidelines (e.g., CONSORT, PRISMA). The journal adheres to guidelines by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). Authors are also required to ensure originality, proper citation and avoid redundant publication.

Author Support & Best Practices

To enhance the quality and reach of your submission, consider the following best practices:

Highlight how your study addresses a gap in child or adolescent mental health and why it matters globally.
Use clear, structured abstracts, defined keywords, and accessible language suitable for multidisciplinary readers.
Include a data availability statement and, where possible, deposit data in recognised repositories.
Provide detailed methods, ethical statements and, for intervention studies, trial registration where applicable.
Use inclusive language, report diversity of samples, and reflect on generalisability across contexts.
Consider multimedia or graphical abstracts if relevant to enhance accessibility and dissemination.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I submit to a special issue even if there is a regular issue open?: A: Yes – you may propose a special issue or submit directly to a regular issue. For special issues, you first submit a proposal and await guest-editor approval.
Q: Do I need to pay the APC before review?: A: No. The APC is payable only after acceptance. Discounts or waivers may apply; please contact the editorial office for eligibility.
Q: Is open access mandatory?: A: Yes. All published articles are open access under the CC-BY 4.0 licence, enabling free reading, reuse and distribution with attribution.
Q: How soon after acceptance will my article be published?: A: The journal aims for prompt publication; many articles are released online ahead of issue-assignment. Exact timing depends on production schedule.
Q: Do you accept submissions that are not strictly clinical?: A: Yes. We welcome multidisciplinary work across neuroscience, public health, education, social sciences and policy—as long as the focus is adolescent or child mental health.

How to Submit

Submit your manuscript via the online submission portal accessible at the journal website or send the manuscript as a Word/PDF file to [email protected]. Ensure you select the correct article type and include a cover letter summarising the contribution, significance and compliance with the journal’s policies.

Conclusion

We look forward to receiving your contributions to Archives of Psychiatry and Mental Health (APMH). Whether you are offering an original empirical study, a systematic review, a brief report, a commentary or leading a special issue, your work can help advance the field of youth mental health globally. Thank you for considering APMH as your publication venue.

Call for Papers