The Archives of Psychiatry and Mental Health (APMH) is committed to supporting global research dissemination by offering a fair, inclusive, and transparent Waiver Policy. This policy ensures that authors facing financial constraints—particularly those from low-income regions or without institutional funding—are not excluded from publishing valuable mental health research.

Open-access publishing relies on Article Processing Charges (APCs) to sustain peer review, indexing, editorial work, and digital archiving. However, APMH recognizes that not all researchers have equal access to financial resources. Our waiver and discount system ensures equitable participation in the scientific conversation.

APMH believes financial limitations should never prevent the publication of scientifically important research.

Philosophy Behind the Waiver Program

Our Waiver Policy is grounded in principles recommended by:

COPE – Committee on Publication Ethics
DOAJ – Directory of Open Access Journals
Plan S / cOAlition S Open Publishing Standards
UNESCO Open Science recommendations

This ensures fairness, transparency, and global access irrespective of an author’s financial situation.

Eligibility Criteria for Waivers

Waivers and discounts apply to authors who meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. Low-Income Countries (LIC) / Lower-Middle Income Countries (LMIC)

Authors based in countries classified by the World Bank as LIC or LMIC are eligible for:

Full waivers (100%) for LIC regions
Partial waivers (40–80%) for LMIC regions

Eligibility is determined by the corresponding author's institutional affiliation at the time of submission.

2. No Research Funding or Institutional Support

Authors with no grant funding or institutional APC support may request:

Partial APC waivers
Discounts (30–70%)

3. Students and Early-Career Researchers

APMH encourages submissions from:

Graduate students
Doctoral candidates
Postdoctoral researchers

Applicants may be granted a partial waiver based on documentation.

4. Extraordinary Circumstances

Special waivers may be granted for:

Humanitarian crises
Institutional emergencies
Economic instability
Other significant hardships

What the Waiver Covers

A waiver applies exclusively to the Article Processing Charge (APC). It does not apply to:

Optional premium editing services
Figure redrawing services
Post-acceptance major revisions
Conference promotional materials

Waiver approval does not influence editorial decisions.

How to Apply for a Waiver

Authors must apply for waivers before manuscript acceptance. Applications submitted after acceptance may not be considered.

To apply, send an email to the editorial office that includes:

Manuscript title
Names and affiliations of all authors
Statement explaining financial challenges
Indication of country income status (if applicable)
Any supporting documents (optional but helpful)

Email Template

Subject: Waiver Request for Manuscript Submission Dear Editorial Office, I am writing to request a waiver/discount for our manuscript titled “[TITLE]”. Due to [reason: e.g., no funding, student status, or country income status], we are unable to cover the full APC cost. We kindly request your consideration for a waiver. Sincerely, [Name, Institution, Country]

Evaluation Process

The waiver team evaluates requests based on:

Clarity and legitimacy of financial constraints
Income classification of the author's country
Funding availability and institutional backing
Relevance and quality of the manuscript
Prior waiver history of the author

The decision typically takes 3–7 business days.

Transparency & Fairness

APMH ensures:

Waiver decisions are not influenced by authorship nationality, gender, or institution
Editorial decisions remain entirely independent
All waiver discussions remain confidential

The acceptance decision is made before APC or waiver considerations.

Examples of Waiver Cases

Case 1: Student in a Low-Income Country

A PhD student conducting a clinical psychology study with no external funding receives a 100% waiver.

Case 2: LMIC Research Group Without Institutional Support

A public university team submits a case report but lacks funding. APMH grants a 70% waiver.

Case 3: Early-career Researcher in Crisis Region

An author affected by geopolitical instability applies for a waiver with documentation. APMH grants full relief.

Waiver Limitations

Waivers cannot be applied:

Retroactively after APC payment
After the article enters production
For articles withdrawn voluntarily by authors
For invited articles (already discounted)

Waivers are granted once per manuscript, not per author.

Maintaining Sustainability

While waivers help maintain accessibility, APMH must ensure the sustainability of its open-access operations. Therefore:

The total number of waivers per year may be limited
Priority is given to LIC/LMIC authors and students
Larger discounts may be offered instead of full waivers

APMH strives to balance financial sustainability with ethical responsibility.

Funder and Institutional Agreements

Many institutions and funders support APC payments. Authors should check:

Institutional APC coverage programs
Open-access mandates by funders
National research funding agencies

APMH provides invoices and compliance documentation upon request.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will requesting a waiver affect my chances of acceptance?: No. Editorial decisions are independent of financial considerations.
Q: Can I request a waiver after my manuscript is accepted?: Generally no. Waiver requests must be submitted before acceptance.
Q: What if my institution can pay part of the APC?: Partial waivers or discounts may be granted.
Q: Do waivers apply to supplementary services?: No. Waivers apply only to APC charges.
Q: Can all co-authors contribute to the APC?: Yes. Collaborative funding is acceptable.

Conclusion

The Waiver Policy of APMH ensures that economic barriers do not hinder the publication of impactful psychiatric and mental health research. Through structured, compassionate, and transparent waiver mechanisms, APMH supports authors from diverse backgrounds—and contributes to a more inclusive global scholarly ecosystem.