The Indian Journal of Mental Health Research (the “Journal”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of all users of this website, including authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. This Privacy Statement explains what personal data we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, how long we retain it, and the choices you have. By registering an account, submitting a manuscript, or participating in peer review, you acknowledge that your information will be handled as described below.

1) What information we collect

We collect information that you voluntarily provide when you register, submit, review, or correspond with the Journal, including:

• Account and identity data: name, affiliation, country, email address, ORCID iD (if provided), username, and role (author/reviewer/editor).

• Submission data: manuscript files, supplementary files, cover letter, metadata (title, abstract, keywords), author lists and contributions, acknowledgements, funding information, conflicts of interest, and ethics statements.

• Review and editorial data: reviewer invitations, acceptance/decline decisions, review comments, recommendations, editorial decisions, and correspondence within the editorial workflow.

• Technical and usage data: IP address, browser/device details, timestamps, and system logs generated by the journal management platform to ensure security and reliable operation (including protection against misuse).

• Cookies (where applicable): small files that help maintain sessions and improve user experience. You may control cookie settings through your browser.

2) Why we collect and use your data (purpose and legal basis)

We process personal data to:

• Operate the journal workflow (registration, manuscript submission, peer review, editorial decision-making, production, and publication).

• Communicate with users about submissions, reviews, editorial queries, and publication-related notices.

• Maintain the integrity and security of our systems, prevent fraud/abuse, and troubleshoot technical issues.

• Meet editorial and ethical obligations, including handling allegations of misconduct, corrections, retractions, and conflicts of interest (as applicable).
  Where required by law, processing is based on one or more of the following: your consent, performance of a service you request (e.g., managing your submission), legitimate interests (e.g., running a scholarly journal securely), and/or legal obligations.

3) What we do not do

• We do not sell personal data to third parties.

• We do not use manuscript content for marketing purposes.

• We do not publicly disclose reviewer identities in anonymous peer review workflows unless the reviewer explicitly consents and the journal policy allows it.

4) Sharing of information and third parties

We may share or disclose information only when necessary for journal operations, including:

• Within the editorial process: manuscript and author information is shared with editors and reviewers for evaluation.

• Service providers: limited data may be processed by vendors that provide website hosting, email delivery, backups, analytics, or journal platform support, under appropriate confidentiality and security obligations.

• Indexing and archiving: upon publication, article metadata (and the published article) may be shared with indexing services, repositories, and preservation systems.

• Legal/ethical requirements: if required to comply with law, court orders, or to address research integrity concerns (including contacting institutions or ethics committees where appropriate).

5) Data retention

We retain user and submission records for as long as necessary to:

• Manage editorial processes and maintain scholarly record integrity;

• Enable audits of decisions, corrections, retractions, and ethical queries; and

• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
  Published articles remain part of the permanent scholarly record. If you request account deletion, certain records may still be retained where necessary for editorial integrity and legal compliance (e.g., manuscript history, decision logs).

6) Security

We apply reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards to protect personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no online system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure; users are encouraged to use strong passwords and keep account credentials confidential.

7) Your rights and choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights to:

• Access, correct, or update your personal data;

• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;

• Request deletion or restriction of processing (subject to scholarly record and legal requirements);

• Object to certain processing; and

• Request a copy of your data in a portable format.
  You can update many details directly within your user profile. For additional requests, contact the Journal via the email listed on the website’s Contact page.

8) Manuscripts and sensitive information

Authors should avoid uploading unnecessary personal or sensitive information. If manuscripts include clinical information, authors must ensure:

• Appropriate ethical approvals and consent;

• De-identification where required; and

• Compliance with applicable regulations and institutional policies.
  The Journal is not responsible for personal data that authors choose to include in submitted files beyond what is necessary for scholarly reporting.

9) International users and cross-border data transfers

Because the Journal may use third-party hosting or service providers, personal data may be processed in countries other than where you reside. We take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate safeguards consistent with applicable law.

10) Policy updates

We may update this Privacy Statement periodically to reflect operational, legal, or policy changes. The most recent version will always be available on the journal website. Material changes may be communicated to registered users when appropriate.

Contact
For privacy-related questions, requests, or concerns, please contact the Journal through the official contact details provided on the website’s Privacy or Contact page.