Editorial Policy

Our Commitment to Reliable Mental Health Information

As a people-first health technology company, we are dedicated to empowering individuals with accurate and reliable resources that offer valuable insight into mental health conditions and treatment options. Our content is designed to guide and support, not replace, the advice of licensed physicians, therapists, and mental health professionals. While we review all our content to assure its accuracy, it is important to seek professional treatment and diagnosis from a licensed therapist or medical professional if you have mental health concerns.

We Are Independent and Unbiased

MentalHealth.com works diligently to create a healthcare platform that is equitable, unbiased, and not influenced by outside corporate interests. We are an entirely self-funded organization that is 100% editorially independent. MentalHealth.com does not receive funding from any mental health service providers or the pharmaceutical industry.

Guided by the principles of community, transparency, and neutrality, all editorial decisions regarding the content published on this site are made by the MentalHealth.com Editorial Team under the guidance of our Clinical Affairs Team.

To maintain a continued relationship of trust with our audience, MentalHealth.com requires all writers and editors to disclose conflicts of interest, including financial or personal relationships with any persons, groups, or organizations.

Our Content Quality Commitment

MentalHealth.com is committed to providing mental health information you can rely on. Prior to publication, our Clinical Affairs Team reviews all editorial content to ensure that the information is medically accurate, reflects current standards of care, and is well-supported by up-to-date research.

Our Clinical Affairs Team consists of a dedicated group of mental health professionals, industry experts, and healthcare professionals who work diligently to help ensure the accuracy and integrity of all MentalHealth.com content, products, and services.

Any content that discusses scientific, clinical, or medical matters is vetted for both accuracy and clarity. We understand that our content helps people make important health decisions, and therefore, we translate complex scientific concepts into content that is accessible and easy to understand.

To ensure we are providing the most accurate and comprehensive information possible, we will make it clear when there is a scientific consensus on a topic and where there is competing or emerging information.

Sensitivity in Mental Health Information

MentalHealth.com is committed to handling mental health information with the utmost care and responsibility. We recognize the sensitivity of these topics and the impact they have on individuals seeking support and guidance.

We never produce exploitative content to drive engagement, nor do we use fear-based tactics that may heighten anxiety or distress. Fear-based tactics in mental health information can be harmful, misleading, and counterproductive. Instead, we prioritize content that is informative, balanced, and empowering—designed to support well-being rather than exploit concerns.

Protecting Vulnerable People

In addition to ensuring sensitivity in mental health information, we take proactive measures to protect vulnerable individuals who may be at heightened risk due to their mental health conditions, personal circumstances, or social disadvantages. This includes those experiencing crises, self-harm, suicidal ideation, or trauma-related challenges.

  • Editorial Oversight and Sensitivity Reviews – Our editorial team regularly reviews content related to sensitive topics to ensure it aligns with ethical standards and best practices.
  • Ethical and Non-Exploitative Reporting – We avoid sensationalizing mental health struggles and instead focus on responsible editorial practices that respect the dignity of individuals and communities.
  • Content Warnings and Accessibility – When discussing topics that could be distressing, such as self-harm or suicide, we include content warnings and ensure accessibility to supportive resources.
  • Avoiding Harmful Stereotypes – Our content actively challenges stigmatizing language and misconceptions about mental health, ensuring that all discussions are framed with compassion and accuracy.
  • Resource Inclusion – Whenever content covers crisis-related subjects, we provide links or references to professional help, non-profit helplines, and crisis support organizations.

Identifying and Labeling Sensitive Content

Some mental health topics are inherently more sensitive than others, especially those related to trauma, crisis situations, self-harm, or conditions with higher emotional weight. When content falls within this category, we take additional steps to ensure it is handled with the appropriate level of care.

  • Content Tagging – Articles covering particularly sensitive subjects are marked with a clear label to inform readers about the nature of the content.
  • Disclaimers – We include disclaimers on sensitive content to provide context and direct readers to appropriate resources, such as crisis support services.
  • Tone and Framing – Our editorial team ensures that discussions on difficult topics are framed with empathy, avoiding alarmist language while still providing honest, evidence-based information.

By implementing these measures, we strive to create a responsible and supportive environment for those seeking mental health information, ensuring that our content remains a source of clarity and help rather than distress or confusion.

Clinical Review Process

At MentalHealth.com, we take medical content seriously. Our Clinical Review Process is designed to uphold the highest standards of accuracy, reliability, and clarity. Our clinical team follows a thorough review process guided by our founding principles:

  • Accuracy – Verify medical facts and terminology to ensure correctness.
  • Relevance – Ensure content aligns with the needs and concerns of our audience.
  • Recency – Update materials with the latest research, guidelines, and medical advancements.
  • Source Quality – Use peer-reviewed studies, government resources, and other reputable references.
  • Clarity – Maintain clear, concise, and accessible language for all readers.
  • Consistency – Standardize terminology, formatting, and tone across all content.
  • Compliance – Adhere to ethical, legal, and medical best practices in all content creation.

Every article undergoes multiple layers of review by our Clinical Affairs Team and Editorial Team to ensure that our readers receive information that is not only accurate but also actionable and easy to understand.

Editing Process

Our editorial team plays an active role in refining and updating content to maintain accuracy, clarity, and relevance. In addition to reviewing original content, our editors update references, incorporate recent research, and ensure that all material reflects current events and evolving discussions in the mental health space.

At times, our editors also work on behalf of our authors to modify and/or enhance existing content. This is particularly important when revisiting legacy or acquired material, ensuring it aligns with our high standards for credibility and accessibility. Any content that has undergone editorial enhancement is clearly marked, indicating the editor’s role in the process.

Our Ethical Use of AI in Editorial Practices

At MentalHealth.com, we recognize the role of artificial intelligence (AI) as a valuable tool in enhancing the readability, accuracy, and efficiency of our editorial process. AI is used to assist—never replace—our team of professional writers, editors, and medical reviewers. Our commitment is to ensure that all content remains clear, accurate, and reliable while upholding the highest editorial and ethical standards.

We maintain full transparency in how AI is integrated into our editorial process. MentalHealth.com does not publish AI-generated content without thorough human review, nor do we rely on AI for medical or clinical recommendations. AI serves solely as a support tool, helping our Editorial Team refine content comprehension and streamline research efficiency.

AI and Content Comprehension

Our commitment to making mental health information understandable is at the core of our editorial mission and use of AI. We leverage AI as a tool to enhance readability, improve clarity, and support research efficiency—always under human oversight.

Our use and application of AI does not generate new ideas or replace expert analysis; rather, it serves as a tool to refine language, enhance readability, and structure content for accessibility. Specifically, AI helps identify areas where additional context may benefit our readers, ensuring that complex medical and psychological topics are presented in a clear and digestible manner.

Every AI-assisted enhancement undergoes thorough review by our writers, editors, and Clinical Affairs Team to maintain accuracy, reliability, and strict adherence to our editorial standards. AI assists in:

  • Identifying complex or dense language that may hinder comprehension.
  • Suggesting refinements to improve readability while preserving medical accuracy.
  • Highlighting areas where additional clarity or context may be beneficial to the reader.

These enhancements help us communicate nuanced medical and psychological topics in a way that is digestible and useful for our audience.

AI-Assisted Readability Improvements

AI-driven tools help optimize our content’s structure and flow, ensuring that information is presented in an organized and engaging manner. These tools:

  • Provide insights on sentence structure and paragraph organization to improve readability.
  • Assist in detecting redundant or overly technical phrasing, allowing our editors to refine content for a broader audience.
  • Offer preliminary suggestions for tone consistency, ensuring that our articles remain accessible without compromising professionalism.

While AI contributes to these refinements, all final content decisions rest with our editorial and clinical teams to maintain quality and credibility.

AI for Research and Efficiency

MentalHealth.com leverages AI to enhance research efficiency while upholding the highest of sourcing standards. AI is used to:

  • Rapidly scan and summarize the latest peer-reviewed studies, guidelines, and trusted medical sources.
  • Identify emerging trends and developments in mental health research.
  • Cross-check factual information against multiple credible sources for consistency.

Despite AI’s role in streamlining research, our human editorial team anyways verifies all sources and ensures that every piece of information meets our content quality commitment. AI serves as a tool for efficiency, not as a substitute for expert analysis and judgment.

AI and Enhancements

AI serves as a tool to support comprehension, and we do not use AI to generate new ideas or concepts. Rather, we use AI ethically to expand upon existing topics, providing our readers with deeper insights and additional context to support their understanding. Whenever AI is utilized for enhancements, our writers, editors, and Clinical Affairs Team actively participate in the enhancement process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and adherence to our editorial standards.

Any content where AI has been used to enhance an article by expanding its core focus is clearly tagged and disclosed to our audience through a disclaimer. We believe in full transparency, ensuring that readers are aware of AI-assisted refinements. Additionally, a data slice of the AI-enhanced content is made available for review, allowing our audience to distinguish between original content and AI-supported expansions.

Keeping Information Current

Periodic Reviews

MentalHealth.com ensures all content remains accurate, reliable, and aligned with the highest standards of medical integrity. As part of this commitment, content is reviewed at least once per year to uphold the principles outlined in our Clinical Review Process. Every review is conducted by a human to verify accuracy and relevance.

Acquired Content

To expand our knowledge base, MentalHealth.com has strategically acquired reputable mental health resources, including MentalHelp.net. Founded in 1995, MentalHelp.net has provided millions with an extensive library of mental health content and access to a network of licensed medical professionals. Its mission has been to promote mental health awareness through scientifically accurate and up-to-date information.

With this acquisition, we have integrated over 2,000 mental health articles, expert insights, and user-generated content curated by leading doctors, clinicians, therapists, and individuals with lived experience. While this significantly enriches our content library, we remain committed to ensuring that all acquired material meets our editorial and clinical standards.

To maintain accuracy and relevance, we periodically update outdated or informal MentalHelp.net content to align with our guidelines. Any such revisions are clearly marked, with acknowledgment of the editor involved in the process.

All MentalHelp.net content is labeled with a content disclaimer while our editors and Clinical Affairs Team systematically review, update, and enhance materials to meet our quality standards. This process is expected to be completed by March 31, 2025. Additionally, we have engaged former MentalHelp.net contributors to support this effort.

Original Content

MentalHealth.com regularly reviews and updates content to ensure it meets current clinical standards, providing our readers with the most accurate, relevant, and reliable mental health information. As medical research evolves and new treatments, guidelines, and best practices emerge, it is essential that our content reflects these advancements.

Regular updates not only enhance accuracy but also reinforce our commitment to credibility and reliability. This process helps prevent the spread of outdated or potentially misleading information while ensuring that all readers have access to the latest insights on mental health conditions, treatments, and wellness strategies.

Every piece of content undergoes a thorough review process and includes:

  • The original publication date
  • The date of the most recent update
  • The date of last medical review
  • The date of any significant updates made between publication and the latest revision

By maintaining a periodic review cycle, we ensure all content reflects the latest clinical standards and best practices. Our teams actively monitor developments in mental health research, medical guidelines, and industry regulations to determine when updates are needed. The Clinical Affairs and Editorial Teams work collaboratively to validate revisions, reinforcing MentalHealth.com as a reliable resource for accurate and up-to-date mental health information.

Reviewing and Updating Our Editorial Policy

As with all of our content, our Editorial Team will review and revise our editorial policy periodically. When we revise our Editorial Policy, we will include on this page the following:

  • Original publication date
  • Date of last change
  • Date of last review

If significant changes are made to our editorial policy, we will notify our audience and explain the specific changes and the reasons they were made.

This Privacy Policy was originally published on January 23, 2024, last updated on February 9, 2025, and has been reviewed and revised by the Editorial Team and Clinical Affairs Team to ensure accuracy, compliance, and alignment with our guiding principles. If you have suggestions, questions, or simply want to better understand how we approach mental health information, please contact us.