PLOS Mental Health

PLOS Mental Health is dedicated to connecting scientific and clinical research with lived experience, and strives to enable deeper understanding, discussion, and action in addressing challenges and improving health and well-being around the world. #ACatalystForBetter

For #WorldMentalHealthDay (10 Oct), @plosmentalhealth.org's blog on Lived Experience ranges from articles on disinformation, leadership and inclusion, to personal and community blogs, to seminars and resources, to details of the editors and advisory board. speakingofmedicine.plos.org/2026/10/07/w...

Publishing with Purpose: Bringing lived experiences into journal development Read our latest Editorial, co-authored with members of our Lived Experience Advisory Board journals.plos.org/mentalhealth...

Can machines really be therapists? Explore research on AI in mental healthcare, including its strengths, limitations, and the questions raised for the future of mental health care. 🔗 Learn more: plos.io/4uCTpOx

New @plosmentalhealth.org Essay: Held but not healed – why coercive practices undermine wellness. In our latest Essay, Sandra Ferreira from @avesmentalhealth.bsky.social reflects on coercion and why it has the potential to damage longer-term wellness. journals.plos.org/mentalhealth...

We are pleased to announce that PLOS Mental Health is now indexed by PubMed Central and Scopus! For more details about where we are indexed, take a look at our 'Indexing and Archiving' information: journals.plos.org/mentalhealth...

Our latest blog summarizes how we have responded to the suggestions of our amazing Lived Experience Advisory Board speakingofmedicine.plos.org/2025/11/25/h...

We are thrilled to now be on BlueSky! We prioritize studies addressing critical health challenges—from major diseases to health equity—that bridge scientific rigor with real-world impact, connecting researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to advance global health 🧬🧪 #OpenScience #MedSky

We are pleased to share the recording of our powerful World Mental Health Day panel discussion, which we co-hosted with @ucl.ac.uk. Please engage with the content at your own discretion as the topics discussed may be distressing. speakingofmedicine.plos.org/2025/10/29/h...

Systematic and scoping reviews are considered to be Research Articles at @plos.org But what does this mean for manuscript preparation and submission and why does this matter to authors? Take a look at our latest blog to find out... speakingofmedicine.plos.org/2025/10/22/w...

Interested in submitting a systematic or scoping review to PLOS Global Public Health? Check out this fantastic blog post written by colleagues at our sister journal, @plosmentalhealth.org - all of the guidance you see there applies for PLOS GPH as well. speakingofmedicine.plos.org/2025/10/22/w...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthOpinion Advocates around the world provide a lived experience response to fake news... '...society seeks someone to blame for what it doesn't understand....claims reopen wounds for every person who's ever been told that they shouldn't exist' journals.plos.org/mentalhealth...

Celebrating four years of PLOS Global Public Health: reflections from Executive Editor @juliarobinson.bsky.social www.linkedin.com/pulse/celebr...

This #WorldMentalHealthDay we focus on service access in times of crisis. We highlight content from our journal and across @plos.org (@plosglobalpublichealth.org and PLOS Medicine), which aims to improve well-being in the face of mass trauma speakingofmedicine.plos.org/2025/10/10/w...

Please join us this World Mental Health Day at 3pm BST for a live panel discussion chaired by our co-EiC @thewrittenro.bsky.social in which we will focus on mental health support during emergencies and catastrophes www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/world-ment...

Inside the mind of the reviewer... If you are interested in understanding what reviewers look for, either because you want to review or you want to improve your academic writing, take a look at this free workshop that we hosted for #PeerReviewWeek speakingofmedicine.plos.org/2025/09/19/p...

For Youth Mental Health Day last week, we hosted an international roundtable (with representation from USA, Uganda and India), which discussed the importance of sharing support when tackling stigma among young people. speakingofmedicine.plos.org/2025/09/18/y...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle A new study led by @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social assesses the therapeutic potential of cannabis-based medicinal products for insomnia: journals.plos.org/mentalhealth...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthOpinion Matthew Jackman (Australian Centre for Lived Experience) and colleagues call for leadership to be defined by the ability to transform personal challenges into advocacy, empathy, and collective growth, and not by authority/position. journals.plos.org/mentalhealth...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle "Every Brilliant Thing”, an interactive play now in the West End starring @lennyhenryofficial.bsky.social, has been shown by University of North Carolina to reduce suicide-associated stigma among students, even a month post-performance journals.plos.org/mentalhealth...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle Using National Health Interview Survey data, researchers from University of British Columbia highlight the need for targeted interventions and policy reforms that address disparities in mental health service use among immigrants. journals.plos.org/mentalhealth...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthOpinion Money alone is not enough. Professor Martyn Pickersgill at @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social calls for a more ambitious mental health agenda in Scotland. He outlines his recommendations, with a focus on collaboration and community journals.plos.org/mentalhealth...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthReview Dr @jekpsych.bsky.social and mental health professionals from all continents, critically evaluate the extent to which current understanding of traumatic stress disorders captures the complexity of trauma across global contexts. journals.plos.org/mentalhealth...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle Researchers from @northumbriauni.bsky.social‬, @newcastleuni.bsky.social, @ensdelyon.bsky.social and @york.ac.uk explore the rapid changes in mental health that occur alongside changes in food security. journals.plos.org/mentalhealth...

In our latest ‘Getting to know PLOS Mental Health‘ blog, we speak with Dr Soumitra Pathare at Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy, Pune, who co-leads our ‘Socio-economics and Political Approaches’ section with Dr China Mills at Healing Justice London. speakingofmedicine.plos.org/2025/07/22/g...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle A study from @ualberta.bsky.social and @ucalgary.bsky.social sheds light on the public awareness of a ‘silent epidemic’ occurring alongside the opioid crisis, involving co-ingestion of stimulants (e.g. methamphetamine and cocaine) journals.plos.org/mentalhealth...

I hope that by sharing my own lived experience w/arts & mental health, I can not only shed light on my “why” in this work, but also engage others in considering their own. I would like to dedicate this writing to my late father, Reynaldo Rodriguez, who taught me the importance of joy in our lives.❤️

Thank you @gabefabreau.bsky.social and Yasir Essar for sharing this powerful Opinion piece with us. We will continue to shine a spotlight on this throughout the year...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthOpinion 'Arts engagement for mental health: A strengths-based opportunity' Alex Rodriguez from University of Florida shares her experience of how art helped her recovery from a mental health crisis journals.plos.org/mentalhealth...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle A pilot study from Dr Philippa Wheble at Swansea University and Dehan Elçin ‪Tulane University explores the potential of 'Transformational Breath' for alleviating anxiety in professional voice users doi.org/10.1371/jour...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthOpinion When organizations become legacies... @kidshelpphone.bsky.social describe the ripple effects when organizations invest in, and empower, their volunteers.

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle What influence do financial incentives have? A study from @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social & @liverpooluni.bsky.social explores how changes in incentivization of health monitoring affects people with severe mental health conditions. doi.org/10.1371/jour...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthOpinion Psychologists at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Institute of Mental Health (Amritsar) & Chirayu Medical College and Hospital call for cultural adaptations of psychotherapy in India due to persisting colonial era influences doi.org/10.1371/jour...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle How do habits drive our mental health? A study from University of Geneva explores how different components of habitual behavior relate to mental health. doi.org/10.1371/jour...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle Sick leave or work sick? A Systematic Review from @uoft.bsky.social‬, University of Malta & @uofguelph.bsky.social explores presenteeism and absenteeism in the (tele)workplace to better inform organizational policies and strategies. doi.org/10.1371/jour...

It's #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek and the theme is 'Community'. When it comes to mental health, community is not always about physical location. We are all part of the same, diverse community and we can (and should!) all learn from and accept each other. speakingofmedicine.plos.org/2025/05/12/t...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle Researchers at @lshtm.bsky.social, @warchilduk.bsky.social, @beyondtext.bsky.social and Saint Joseph's University work with communities in Lebanon to explore the importance of, and develop guidelines for, culturally relevant informed consent. doi.org/10.1371/jour...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle Researchers at University of Rwanda assess the impact of narrative therapy on reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD in survivors of genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. doi.org/10.1371/jour...

Our latest 'Bigger Picture' seminar asks if machines can actually be therapists. Watch below to hear some thoughts about the benefits, risks and future directions of AI in mental health. speakingofmedicine.plos.org/2025/04/21/p...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle The Mamma Mia program for perinatal depression is evaluated by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, RBUP Norway, Tulane University and Technische Universitat Dresden doi.org/10.1371/jour...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle Ketamine and Mental Health - is it safe? Jennifer Swainson and colleagues from @ualberta.bsky.social, @ucalgary.bsky.social and NOSM University explore the therapeutic potential and safety of Ketamine in the context of mental health doi.org/10.1371/jour...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle Researchers from @ucl.ac.uk and @lshtm.bsky.social explore the barriers and facilitators to addressing mental health needs among ethic and sexual minority groups in order to better inform support service approaches in England and Wales doi.org/10.1371/jour...

In our latest 'Community Case Studies' blog, we speak to Suzanne Fox from the Yellow Tulip Project - a youth-driven movement tackling the stigma surrounding mental health conditions. TW: Includes discussion of suicide which some may find triggering speakingofmedicine.plos.org/2025/03/24/p...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle Researchers from University of Melbourne evaluate the potential of podcasts as mental health interventions. doi.org/10.1371/jour...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle Researchers at @iacs.bsky.social & @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social evaluate the potential of 'MindGym' - a content creation platform for immersive, anxiety-reducing experiences. doi.org/10.1371/jour...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle Why don't psychotherapists use more e-mental health to keep in touch with their clients? Researchers from Evangelisches Klinikum Bethel and Bielefeld University evaluate attitudes towards e-mental health in a sample of German psychotherapists. doi.org/10.1371/jour...

This week is #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek @drkm-c.bsky.social, Professor Amanda Kirby & Dr Luke Beardon outline how our journal aims to provide a platform for all perspectives and recognize what needs championing and challenging for the field to progress journals.plos.org/mentalhealth...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle Research from @ucl.ac.uk and University of Tübingen explores the differences in metacognition associated with depressive and compulsive behaviours. doi.org/10.1371/jour...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle Researchers at University of Zurich & University of Bern explore emotional and behavioral changes in children during the pandemic, which appear to be influenced by changes in parental mental health. doi.org/10.1371/jour...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle Lehana Thabane and colleagues at @mcmasteruniversity.bsky.social, University of Ottawa, @uoft.bsky.social and Queen's University provide guidance for using a Bayesian approach for psychiatric epidemiology doi.org/10.1371/jour...

#NewPLOSMentalHealthArticle Researchers from @sydneyuni.bsky.social use a dynamic modelling analysis to assess the potential for improving mental health care outcomes for young people through changes in services system composition and policies. doi.org/10.1371/jour...