Ethical Standards and Responsibilities
In accordance with the commitment of Promotion and Prevention in Mental Health (PPMH-Journal) to uphold the integrity and credibility of research in the field of mental and psychosocial health promotion and prevention, we expect all submitted manuscripts to adhere to ethical guidelines and principles. This section outlines the core ethical principles that researchers must follow when conducting research that is intended for publication in PPMH-Journal.
Research Ethics Approval
All research involving human participants, including both qualitative and quantitative studies, must obtain ethical approval from a recognized institutional review board (IRB) or ethics committee prior to the commencement of the study. The journal adheres to the Declaration of Helsinki and other international standards on ethical conduct in research, ensuring the protection of human rights and well-being throughout the research process. Authors must provide the approval number or reference from the respective ethics committee in their manuscript.
Informed Consent
Researchers must obtain informed consent from all participants involved in the study, ensuring that participants are fully aware of the nature, purpose, and procedures of the research. This includes information on the potential risks, benefits, and the voluntary nature of participation. The consent should be documented in writing, or if participants are unable to provide written consent, an audio or video recording of the informed consent process must be provided.
Confidentiality and Privacy
PPMH-Journal emphasizes the importance of confidentiality and the protection of personal data. Researchers are responsible for maintaining the privacy of participants and ensuring that data is anonymized or pseudonymized where appropriate. Personal data collected during the research process should be used solely for the purpose of the study and must not be disclosed without proper consent. Manuscripts submitted to the journal should include details on how participants' confidentiality has been maintained, and any sensitive information should be handled in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or relevant local data protection laws.
Protection of Vulnerable Populations
Research involving vulnerable groups, such as individuals with mental health conditions, children, or marginalized communities, must adhere to additional ethical safeguards. Special care must be taken to minimize harm and ensure that participants are not coerced into participating. Researchers must justify the involvement of these groups and ensure that their participation is based on sound ethical grounds, with appropriate safeguards in place to protect their rights and dignity.
Conflict of Interest
Authors must disclose any potential conflict of interest that may influence the design, conduct, or reporting of the research. This includes financial, personal, or professional relationships with organizations or individuals that could be perceived to affect the outcomes of the study. The journal follows a strict policy regarding transparency, and authors are required to submit a conflict of interest statement as part of the manuscript submission process.
Research Integrity and Publication Ethics
Researchers are expected to conduct their studies with integrity and adhere to the highest standards of scientific honesty. Fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited. Authors should properly attribute all sources and ensure that all data presented in the manuscript is authentic. Any errors discovered after submission must be promptly corrected by the author(s).
Animal Research
For research involving animals, authors must adhere to ethical guidelines for animal care and use, ensuring that all studies involving animals have been approved by an institutional ethics committee. The 3Rs Principle (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) should be followed to minimize harm and maximize the benefits of animal research.
Reporting of Results
Authors should report the results of their studies transparently and with sufficient detail to allow for replication and verification of findings. This includes clear descriptions of the study design, methodology, statistical analysis, and findings. Negative or inconclusive results should also be published, as they contribute to the body of knowledge and help avoid publication bias.
Ethics of Peer Review
The peer review process of PPMH-Journal follows a double-blind system, where both the identities of authors and reviewers are kept confidential. Reviewers are expected to assess the quality, validity, and ethical standards of submitted research, and authors are expected to respect the feedback provided. Ethical considerations are a critical part of the review process, and reviewers are asked to focus on the ethical soundness of the study in addition to its scientific merit.
Data Sharing and Open Access
In line with the open access policy of PPMH-Journal, all research articles are freely available to the public, and authors are encouraged to share their raw data and supplementary materials when possible, to promote transparency and reproducibility of research findings. Authors are required to provide access to relevant data sets, and any restrictions on data sharing must be justified with ethical considerations.
Conclusion
By adhering to these ethical guidelines, authors contribute to the advancement of evidence-based practices in mental health promotion and prevention while ensuring that the rights and welfare of participants are protected. PPMH-Journal is committed to publishing research that upholds the highest ethical standards, fostering the development of trustworthy and impactful knowledge in the field of mental health.