About the Journal

Mental Health and Lifestyle Journal (MHLJ) is a peer-reviewed, open access academic journal dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of mental health and its dynamic interactions with lifestyle-related practices. As a scholarly platform, MHLJ publishes original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, brief reports, case studies, and theoretical contributions that explore how lifestyle factors—such as physical activity, nutrition, sleep, stress management, social relationships, digital behavior, and other health-promoting practices—impact psychological well-being across diverse populations and settings.

The journal is committed to academic rigor, scientific integrity, and social relevance. It seeks to serve mental health professionals, public health experts, lifestyle medicine practitioners, psychologists, psychiatrists, medical researchers, and policymakers interested in advancing evidence-based knowledge on the preventive and therapeutic roles of lifestyle interventions in mental health care.

MHLJ follows a double-blind anonymous peer-review process, ensuring that both authors and reviewers remain unaware of each other’s identities. Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two, and in some cases three, expert reviewers to ensure objectivity, methodological soundness, and scholarly contribution.

The journal is published continuously and aims to provide rapid dissemination of high-quality research in both theoretical and applied domains. We welcome contributions from international authors and encourage interdisciplinary research that bridges mental health with lifestyle medicine, behavioral science, social determinants of health, and integrative care approaches.

Aims and Scope

Mental Health and Lifestyle Journal aims to:

  • Promote research that identifies, evaluates, and applies lifestyle interventions (such as diet, exercise, mindfulness, and sleep hygiene) to improve mental health outcomes.

  • Foster a deeper understanding of the mechanisms linking lifestyle choices to psychological and psychiatric conditions.

  • Provide a platform for studies that bridge public health, clinical psychology, psychiatry, behavioral science, and preventive medicine.

  • Support innovations in integrative and non-pharmacological approaches to mental health management.

  • Encourage multidisciplinary collaborations between researchers, clinicians, educators, and policymakers.

Scope of the Journal Includes (but is not limited to):

  • Mental health promotion and prevention through lifestyle.

  • Effects of physical activity, dietary habits, and sleep patterns on psychological well-being.

  • Stress management interventions and resilience-building strategies.

  • Social connectedness, digital well-being, and environmental influences on mental health.

  • Mental health challenges in specific populations (e.g., adolescents, elderly, marginalized communities).

  • Intersection of mental health with chronic diseases and comorbidities.

  • Qualitative and quantitative studies on behavior change and mental wellness.

  • Digital tools and mobile health interventions in lifestyle and mental health.

  • Culturally sensitive models and international perspectives on mental health and lifestyle.

Open Access Statement

Mental Health and Lifestyle Journal is a fully open access journal. All articles published are freely and permanently accessible online to all readers worldwide immediately upon publication. There are no subscription fees or paywalls, and no institutional login is required to access the content.

By adopting the open access model, MHLJ aims to foster the widest possible dissemination of research findings, encourage knowledge sharing, and remove barriers to scientific communication. Readers are free to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles, as long as they comply with the licensing terms.

Open access ensures that scientific knowledge reaches not only researchers and academics but also practitioners, policymakers, students, and members of the general public.

Copyright and License

Authors publishing in Mental Health and Lifestyle Journal retain full copyright of their work. The journal operates under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Under this license:

  • Authors grant the journal the non-exclusive right to publish and distribute the manuscript.

  • Anyone may copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and adapt the work, provided that:

    • Appropriate credit is given to the original authors and source.

    • A link to the license is included.

    • The use is non-commercial in nature.

    • Any modifications are indicated.

This license empowers authors while ensuring their work remains accessible for educational and non-commercial use, consistent with the principles of open science.

Plagiarism Policy

Mental Health and Lifestyle Journal maintains a strict policy against plagiarism and academic misconduct. All submitted manuscripts undergo a thorough plagiarism screening using the iThenticate plagiarism detection software before entering the peer-review process.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct copying of text, data, or figures without proper attribution.

  • Paraphrasing substantial content without acknowledgment.

  • Self-plagiarism of previously published work without clear citation.

Manuscripts found to contain plagiarized material will be rejected outright. In cases of serious academic misconduct, the authors’ institutions may be notified. MHLJ upholds the ethical standards outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and is committed to preserving scientific integrity.

Article Processing Charges (APCs)

To support open access publishing and journal sustainability, Mental Health and Lifestyle Journal charges an Article Processing Charge (APC) of 1,500,000 Iranian Tomans for each accepted manuscript.

This fee covers the costs associated with:

  • Editorial and peer review management

  • Plagiarism screening

  • DOI registration

  • Typesetting and formatting

  • Online hosting and digital archiving

  • Promotion and indexing efforts

Authors will be invoiced only after their manuscript has been accepted for publication. No fees are charged at the time of submission. Fee waivers or discounts may be considered on a case-by-case basis for authors facing financial hardship, especially from low-income or lower-middle-income countries.

Peer-Review Process

Mental Health and Lifestyle Journal utilizes a double-blind anonymous peer-review process to ensure impartial evaluation of all submitted manuscripts. The identities of both authors and reviewers are kept confidential throughout the review process.

Peer Review Steps:

  1. Initial Editorial Assessment: Each submission is screened by the editorial team for adherence to journal scope, formatting requirements, and ethical standards.

  2. Plagiarism Check: Manuscripts are evaluated using iThenticate.

  3. Reviewer Assignment: Submissions passing initial checks are sent to 2–3 expert reviewers with relevant subject expertise.

  4. Evaluation Criteria: Reviewers assess the manuscript based on originality, significance, clarity, methodology, ethical soundness, and contribution to the field.

  5. Decision Process: Based on reviewer feedback, the Editor-in-Chief makes one of the following decisions:

    • Accept

    • Minor Revision

    • Major Revision

    • Reject

  6. Revision and Resubmission: Authors are encouraged to address all reviewer comments thoroughly. Revisions may undergo additional rounds of review.

  7. Final Decision: Once the manuscript meets all criteria, it is approved for publication.

MHLJ strives to provide timely and constructive feedback. The average peer-review period is 4–6 weeks.

Archiving and Repository Policies

Mental Health and Lifestyle Journal is committed to the long-term preservation and accessibility of its published content. The journal implements the following archiving and repository policies:

Self-Archiving Policy (Green OA)

Authors are permitted to deposit:

  • Preprints (submitted versions): May be shared at any time.

  • Accepted manuscripts (post-peer review, pre-typesetting): May be deposited in personal, institutional, or subject repositories.

  • Published articles (Version of Record): May be archived on authors’ personal websites, institutional repositories, or non-commercial platforms, provided proper citation and a link to the official journal version is included.

Journal Website Archiving

All articles are permanently archived on the Mental Health and Lifestyle Journal official website. The journal is working towards inclusion in reputable digital preservation services (such as LOCKSS and CLOCKSS) and academic indexing platforms to ensure content remains accessible in perpetuity.