BM

Bmj Mental Health

BMJ Mental Health is a peer reviewed, open access journal from BMJ covering clinically relevant research in mental health and psychiatry. It publishes evidence-based, innovative research, systematic reviews, and methodological papers in mental health, facilitates multidisciplinary collaboration among psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals, encourages debate on clinically relevant topics, and informs real world practice to improve patient and carer outcomes.

Looking to publish in Bmj Mental Health? Livewrite integrates seamlessly with Word to help you write, edit, and format faster.

Try Livewrite Now
Subject Psychiatry
Impact Factor 4.9
Quartile Q1
Open Access Type Hybrid
eISSN 2755-9734
Invitation Only No
Cost Range Full APC waiver available for eligible authors in low-income countries; partial discounts up to 50% may be considered case by case.

Submission Instructions

Bmj Mental Health accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.

Systematic Review

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract Abstract is required and must not exceed 250 words. Abstract must be up to 250 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings 'Question', 'Study selection and analysis', 'Findings', and 'Conclusions'.
Manuscript Manuscript must be up to 3,500 words, excluding the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions, and references. Main text must use the headings 'Background', 'Objective', 'Study selection and analysis', 'Findings', and 'Conclusions and clinical implications'. Manuscript must include key messages after the abstract under the headings 'What is already known on this topic', 'What this study adds', and 'How this study might affect research, practice or policy', in no more than 3–5 sentences.
References References must be limited to 50. References must be formatted in Vancouver style. References must be cited in numerical order in the main text and list the first three authors by last name and initials followed by 'et al' if applicable.
Figures & Tables Systematic Reviews may include up to 5 tables/illustrations. Tables should be placed in the main text where first cited, while figures must be uploaded as separate files.
Reformat to Bmj Mental Health using Livewrite Premium

Clinical Review

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract An unstructured abstract is required. Abstract must be up to 250 words. Abstract must be unstructured.
Manuscript Manuscript must be up to 3,000 words, excluding the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions, and references. Main text must use the headings Introduction, Methods, and Presentation. Keywords should use Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) descriptors.
References References must not exceed 50. References must be formatted in Vancouver style. References must be cited in numerical order in the main text and list the first three authors followed by et al if applicable.
Figures & Tables Clinical Reviews may include up to 4 tables/illustrations. Tables should be placed in the main text where first cited, while figures must be uploaded as separate files. Figure legends should be provided at the end of the manuscript.
Reformat to Bmj Mental Health using Livewrite Premium

Original Research

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract Abstract is required for Original Research. Abstract must be up to 350 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Background, Objective, Methods, Findings, Conclusions, and Clinical implications.
Manuscript Manuscript must be up to 4,000 words, excluding the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions, and references. Main text must use the headings Background, Objective, Methods, Findings, Discussion, and Clinical implications. Manuscript must include key messages after the abstract under the headings What is already known on this topic, What this study adds, and How this study might affect research, practice or policy, with the section limited to 3–5 sentences.
References Reference list must contain no more than 30 references. References must be formatted in Vancouver style. References must be cited in numerical order, list the first three authors followed by et al if applicable, and include author names, article title, and DOI or PubMed ID.
Figures & Tables Original Research may include up to 4 tables/illustrations. Tables should be placed in the main text where first cited, while figures must be uploaded as separate files.
Reformat to Bmj Mental Health using Livewrite Premium

Correspondence

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript Manuscript must be no more than 400 words.
References References must not exceed 5. References must be formatted in Vancouver style. References must be cited in numerical order in the text, list the first three authors followed by "et al" if applicable, and include author names, article title, and DOI or PubMed ID.
Figures & Tables A maximum of 2 tables or illustrations is permitted. Tables should be placed in the main text where first cited, and figures must be uploaded as separate files.
Reformat to Bmj Mental Health using Livewrite Premium

Short Report

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract Abstract must not be included.
Manuscript Manuscript must be up to 800 words, excluding the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions, and references. Keywords should use Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) descriptors.
References References must not exceed 8. References must be formatted in Vancouver style. References must be cited in numerical order in the text, list the first three authors followed by "et al" if applicable, and include author names, article title, and DOI or PubMed ID.
Figures & Tables Short Reports may include up to 2 small tables and/or figures. Tables should be placed in the main text where first cited, while figures must be uploaded as separate files. Tables should be in Word format, and figure legends should be provided at the end of the manuscript.
Reformat to Bmj Mental Health using Livewrite Premium

Recent Publications

Predictive analytics to direct clinical attention to complex patients with elevated suicide risk: enhancement of the Veterans Health Administration REACH VET model

Alina Peluso, Jorge Ramirez Osorio, William H Kazanis, Amy Robinson, Susana B Martins, Hope Cook, Kelley Callaway, Noah Schaefferkoetter, John F McCarthy, Elizabeth M Oliva, Anuj Kapadia, Jodie A Trafton

10.1136/bmjment-2025-302338
View Publication

‘It is just a prediction; it’s, like, not fact’: youth attitudes towards risk prediction tools and personalised preventive interventions for depression and anxiety

Nina Higson-Sweeney, Anna Peycheva, Josefien J. F. Breedvelt

10.1136/bmjment-2025-302327
View Publication

Cognition and future depression: associations with risk in those with and without a history of depression

Angharad N de Cates, Angeline Lee, Laura Winchester, Klaus P Ebmeier, Paris Lalousis, Rachel Upthegrove, Susannah E Murphy, Catherine J Harmer, Thomas Nichols, Anya Topiwala

10.1136/bmjment-2025-302332
View Publication

Mental health in university students: an umbrella review grading the evidence for psychosocial interventions

Giulia Muriago, Andrea Chiccoli, Davide Papola, Beatrice Compri, Giulia Turrini, Michela Nose, Corrado Barbui

10.1136/bmjment-2025-302323
View Publication

Emulated trial of artificial intelligence use and subsequent depressive outcomes in a survey of US adults

Roy H Perlis, Faith M Gunning, Ata Uslu, Mauricio Santillana, Matthew A Baum, James N Druckman, Katherine Ognyanova, David Lazer

10.1136/bmjment-2026-302609
View Publication

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to publish?

Median time to first decision is 35 days.

Reformat to Bmj Mental Health using Livewrite Premium

What are the publication costs?

Full APC waiver available for eligible authors in low-income countries; partial discounts up to 50% may be considered case by case.

Reformat to Bmj Mental Health using Livewrite Premium

Research Topics

Mental Health Treatment and Access Schizophrenia research and treatment Digital Mental Health Interventions Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development Suicide and Self-Harm Studies Treatment of Major Depression COVID-19 and Mental Health Mental Health Research Topics Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Bipolar Disorder and Treatment Sleep and related disorders Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum Mental Health and Patient Involvement Tryptophan and brain disorders Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes Genetic Associations and Epidemiology Health Policy Implementation Science Healthcare Decision-Making and Restraints Circadian rhythm and melatonin Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes Mental Health and Psychiatry Mental Health via Writing Health, Environment, Cognitive Aging Meta-analysis and systematic reviews

Related Journals

PR
Psychiatry Research Elsevier BV
BM
BMJ Medicine BMJ
FM
Family Medicine And Community Health BMJ
PI
Progress In Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry Elsevier BV
Ad
Addiction WILEY
LP
Lancet Psychiatry Elsevier BV