Update date: September 16, 2025

Effective Date: September 16, 2025

This website, Journal of Neuroscience and Mental Health, is an online platform operated by the Publishing House of Journal of Neuroscience and Mental Health (collectively, "the Publishing House" or "we","us", and "our"). When you use the services provided on this website, we may collect certain personal information from you. For this purpose, we have formulated this Privacy Policy.

This Privacy Policy sets forth general terms applicable to all products and/or services offered by the Publishing House. It shall govern your use of any of our products and/or services. Where a separate privacy notice or privacy agreement applies to a specific product or service, such separate provisions shall also apply; any matters not covered by the separate privacy notice or agreement shall be subject to this Privacy Policy.

Please note that this Privacy Policy does NOT apply to the following circumstances:

(1) The collection and use of your personal information by third-party services (including any third-party applications and websites) accessed through the Publishing House’s services;

(2) Actions that violate applicable laws or the Publishing House’s rules, as well as measures the Publishing House has taken against you in response.

This website may contain or link to information or other services (including websites) provided by third parties. Such third-party services may be operated by relevant third-party platforms. Your use of such third-party services (including any personal information you provide to such third parties) shall be governed by such third parties’ terms of service and privacy policies, which you are advised to read carefully. Please properly safeguard your personal information and disclose it to others only when necessary.

This Privacy Policy applies solely to information we collect, use, process on an entrusted basis, share, transfer, and publicly disclose. It does not apply to any services provided by third parties or their rules governing the use of information. We shall not be liable for any use of your provided information by third parties.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please contact us using the following information:

Company Name: Journal of Neuroscience and Mental Health Publishing House

Tel: 0086-10-83191160, 0086-10-83192876

Email: ndmhxmt@ndmh.com

Address: No.2-1-7-302 East Alley Xiangluying Outside Xuanwumen Street, Beijing 100052, China

We fully understand the importance of your personal information to you and will make every effort to protect the security and reliability of your personal information.

We are committed to maintaining your trust in us and abiding by the following principles to protect your personal information: the principle of consistency of rights and responsibilities, the principle of clear purpose, the principle of choice and consent, the principle of minimum necessity, the principle of ensuring security, the principle of subject participation, the principle of openness and transparency, etc. At the same time, we promise that we will take corresponding security protection measures in accordance with mature industry security standards to protect your personal information.

This version update is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Cybersecurity Law of the People's Republic of China, the Personal Information Protection Law of the People's Republic of China, the Data Security Law of the People's Republic of China, the Administrative Regulations on Network Data Security, the Information Security Technology - Personal Information Security Specification (GB/T 35273-2020) and other relevant laws and regulations, to further clarify the types, methods and purposes of our collection, use, entrusted processing, sharing, transfer and public disclosure of personal information, as well as the methods for you to inquire about, update and delete your personal information.

Before you continue to visit the website Journal of Neuroscience and Mental Health or use our services, please carefully read and confirm that you fully understand all the rules and key points of this Privacy Policy. Once you visit the website Journal of Neuroscience and Mental Health or use our services, it shall be deemed that you agree to all the contents of this Privacy Policy; if you do not agree to the relevant agreement or any of its terms, you shall stop visiting the website Journal of Neuroscience and Mental Health or using our services.

This Policy describes:

1. How We Collect and Use Your Personal Information

2. Cookies and Similar Technologies

3. How We Entrust Processing, Share, Transfer, and Publicly Disclose Your Personal Information

4. How We Protect Your Personal Information

5. Your Rights

6. How We Process Children's Personal Information

7. Updates to This Policy

8. How to Contact Us

1. How We Collect and Use Your Personal Information

Personal information refers to all kinds of information recorded electronically or by other means that can identify a specific natural person or reflect the activities of a specific natural person, either alone or in combination with other information.

We will only collect and use your personal information for the following purposes set forth in this Policy. Where we intend to use the information for other purposes not specified in this Policy, or use information collected for a specific purpose for other purposes, we will obtain your consent in advance.

1.1 Register as a User

When you browse the website Journal of Neuroscience and Mental Health as a visitor, you are not required to provide us with any personal information. The manuscript-related services we provide are available only to registered users of the journal. If you wish to obtain more services through the website Journal of Neuroscience and Mental Health, you need to complete account registration through the following steps.

To create an account or complete specific services, you (reviewer/author/reader) may be required to provide the following information: email address, created password, reviewer's primary classification, name, Pinyin name, serial number, date of birth, gender, ethnicity, place of origin, correspondence address, postal code, Chinese name of the unit, English name of the unit, major, educational background, professional title, position, office telephone number, residential telephone number, mobile phone number, fax number, country/region, province, city, review field, professional expertise, ID card number, research direction, academic field, credibility, search keywords, personal introduction, opinions or suggestions on this journal, QQ number, and WeChat ID.

The information required to be filled in above varies according to your identity during registration, and not all fields are mandatory. The information you provide will be continuously authorized for our use during your use of this service.

1.2 Provide Manuscript Management Services

To provide manuscript management services, we may collect your IP address and login time. We will provide you with services such as inquiry about the manuscript processing process and progress, paper resource services, timely communication services for manuscript issues, and journal mailing services.

1.3 Additional Functions Required for Service Provision

Product development and service optimization. For example, when a failure occurs in our system, we will record and analyze the information generated during the system failure to optimize our services. When you put forward opinions or suggestions to us, we may need you to provide personal information such as your name, mobile phone number, email address and other contact information to facilitate contact with you or help you solve problems. If you refuse to provide the above information, we may not be able to give you timely feedback.

1.4 Security Protection

For example, we will use your information for purposes such as identity verification, security prevention, and archiving and backup to protect the legitimate rights and interests of you and our other users.

2.Cookies and Similar Technologies

To ensure the normal operation of the website and make our services as user-friendly as possible, we will store small data files called Cookies on your computer or mobile device.

A "Cookie" is a small text file that usually contains an identifier, a site name, and some numbers and characters. When you visit a website, the web server sends this file to your browser. The so-called "session cookies" will expire at the end of the browser session and record your activities during the browser session. In contrast, "persistent cookies" will also be saved on your terminal device, which can record your settings or activities on multiple websites until you take the initiative to delete them. However, the Cookies we use do not contain any Personal Information. With the help of Cookies, the website can store data such as your preferences. Cookies do not pose a risk to your computer; they are just plain text files, not executable programs.

We will not use Cookies for any purposes other than those stated in this Policy (such as behavioral analysis, advertising push, etc.). You can manage or delete Cookies according to your own preferences. If Cookies are stored, our web server can identify your terminal. The next time you visit the website or switch between functions that require a password, Cookies can save the information you re-enter. In this way, Cookies allow you to more easily use websites that require you to enter user information. You can also clear all Cookies saved on your computer or mobile phone, and most web browsers have a function to block Cookies. If you do so, you will need to manually change the user settings every time you visit our website. Regardless of whether you save Cookies or not, for security reasons, you must still log in every time you access the areas of our website that require registration.

3.How We Entrust Processing, Share, Transfer, and Publicly Disclose Your Personal Information

3.1 Entrusted Processing

Certain specific modules or functionalities of our website are provided by external vendors. For any company, organization or individual that we engage to process personal information on our behalf, we enter into a strict confidentiality agreement with them, requiring that they process such personal information in accordance with our instructions, this Privacy Policy, and all other applicable confidentiality and security measures.

3.2 Sharing

We will not share your personal information with any companies, organizations, or individuals outside the journal, except in the following cases:

(1) We will share your personal information with other parties after obtaining your explicit consent.

(2) We may share your personal information externally as required by laws and regulations, or in response to mandatory requests from competent government authorities.

(3) Sharing with our Competent Authorities and Sponsoring Entities: Your personal information may be shared with the Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Education, Qiqihar Medical University, and the Chinese Medical Doctor Association (CMDA). We will share only the minimum necessary personal information, and such sharing shall be subject to the purposes stated in this Privacy Policy. Should any of the above entities intend to change the purpose for which your personal information is processed, we will seek your separate authorization and consent again.

(4) Sharing with authorized partners: To achieve the purposes stated in this Policy only, some of our services will be provided by authorized partners. We may share certain personal information of yours with partners to provide better customer service and user experience. For example, both our website and the manuscript management system "Qinyun Remote Manuscript Management System" are supported by the third-party supplier Beijing Qinyun Technology Development Co., Ltd. If the website or system malfunctions and cannot provide you with services such as browsing, submitting, and reviewing manuscripts, we will share your personal information with authorized partners depending on the circumstances. We will only share your personal information for legal, legitimate, necessary, specific, and clear purposes, and will only share the personal information necessary for providing services. Our partners have no right to use the shared personal information for any other purposes.

3.3 Transfer

We will not transfer your personal information to any company, organization or individual, except in the following circumstances:

(1) We will transfer your personal information to other parties after obtaining your explicit consent.

(2) In the event of a merger, acquisition, or bankruptcy liquidation, if a transfer of personal information is involved, we will require the new company or organization that holds your personal information to continue to be bound by this Privacy Policy; otherwise, we will require that company or organization to obtain your authorization and consent again.

3.4 Public Disclosure

We will publicly disclose your personal information only in the following circumstances:

(1) After obtaining your explicit consent.

(2) We may publicly disclose your personal information when required by law, legal process, litigation, or mandatory requests from competent government authorities. Subject to compliance with applicable laws and regulations, upon receiving a request for disclosure of the information described above, we will require the production of corresponding legal documentation, such as a subpoena or an investigation letter. We firmly believe that information we are requested to provide should be kept as transparent as possible within the boundaries permitted by law.

3.5 Exceptions to Prior Authorization and Consent for Entrusted Processing, Sharing, Transfer, and Public Disclosure of Personal Information

In the following circumstances, sharing, transfer, or public disclosure of your personal information does not require prior authorization or consent from you:

(1) Where it is directly related to national security or national defense; directly related to public safety, public health, or major public interests; directly related to criminal investigation, prosecution, trial, or enforcement of judgments; where it is necessary to protect your or another individual's major legitimate rights and interests such as life or property, yet it is difficult to obtain the individual's consent; where you have voluntarily made your personal information publicly available to the public; or where personal information is collected from lawfully publicly disclosed sources, such as lawful news reports or government information disclosure channels.

(2) Where it is necessary for the conclusion and performance of a contract at the request of the data subject; where it is necessary for maintaining the safe and stable operation of the products or services we provide, such as detecting and resolving product or service failures; or other circumstances as stipulated by laws and regulations.

(3) According to applicable laws, the sharing or transfer of de-identified personal information, provided that the data recipient is unable to reverse-engineer or re-identify the data subject, shall not be considered as acts of external sharing, transfer, or public disclosure of personal information. The storage and processing of such data will not require separate notice to you or your consent.

4.How We Protect Your Personal Information

4.1 Retention of Personal Information

Retention Period: For all personal information you provide while using our services, unless you delete such information or opt out of collection through system settings, we will continue to be authorized to use your personal information throughout your use of our products and/or services. When you apply for account cancellation, we will cease using and delete the above-mentioned information. Our retention period for personal information is the minimum period necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, and there is no retention beyond the aforementioned period.

Retention Territory: The above-mentioned information will be stored within the territory of the People's Republic of China.

4.2 Protection of Personal Information

We attach great importance to information security and strive to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure through strict security safeguards. However, please understand that due to technical limitations, the rapid development of internet technologies, and the potential existence of various malicious attack methods, it is impossible for us to guarantee absolute information security even if we do our utmost to strengthen security measures. Please also be aware that the systems and communication networks you use to access our services may have security issues arising from factors beyond our control.

4.2.1 Security Measures

(1) We have implemented security safeguards that comply with industry standards to protect the personal information you provide, preventing data from unauthorized access, public disclosure, use, modification, damage, or loss. We will take all reasonable and feasible measures to protect your personal information.

(2) We will use encryption technologies to ensure data confidentiality, and we will employ trusted protection mechanisms to prevent data from malicious attacks.

(3) We will deploy access control mechanisms to ensure that only authorized personnel can access personal information. We will enter into confidentiality clauses with employees and partners who have access to your personal information, stipulating that no information may be disclosed to any third party without written permission. Any violation of the confidentiality agreement will result in liability being pursued in accordance with relevant regulations.

(4) We will conduct security and privacy protection training sessions to enhance our employees' awareness of the importance of protecting personal information.

(5) We will take all reasonable and feasible measures to ensure that no irrelevant personal information is collected. We will retain your personal information only for the period necessary to achieve the purposes stated in this Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

4.2.2 Security Reminders

(1) The internet is not an absolutely secure environment, and email, instant messaging, and other means of communication with other users are not encrypted. We strongly advise you not to send personal information through such channels. Please use a complex password to help us ensure the security of your account.

(2) The internet environment is not one hundred percent secure. We will do our best to ensure or guarantee the security of any information you send to us. If our physical, technical, or administrative safeguards are compromised, resulting in unauthorized access, public disclosure, tampering, or destruction of information that causes damage to your legitimate rights and interests, we will assume corresponding legal liability.

(3) When using the website Journal of Neuroscience and Mental Health and its services, please do not post or upload any information that you consider private, nor disseminate such information to others through the servers of the website Journal of Neuroscience and Mental Health. If any privacy breach occurs as a result of such conduct, you shall bear sole responsibility.

(4) Please do not publicly disclose any important information such as your account details for various properties, bank card numbers, credit card numbers, third-party payment account details, or corresponding passwords while using the website Journal of Neuroscience and Mental Health. Any losses arising from such disclosure shall be borne solely by you.

4.2.3 Security Incident Notification

(1) We will develop corresponding cybersecurity incident emergency response plans to promptly address security risks such as system vulnerabilities, computer viruses, cyber attacks, and network intrusions. In the event of an incident endangering cybersecurity, we will immediately activate the emergency response plan and take appropriate remedial measures.

(2) In the unfortunate event of a personal information security incident, we will, in accordance with the requirements of laws and regulations, promptly inform you of: the basic circumstances and potential impact of the security incident, the remedial measures we have taken or will take, recommendations for you to independently protect against and mitigate risks, and remedial actions available to you. We will timely notify you of the relevant incident details via email, letter, phone call, push notification, or other means. When it is difficult to notify each data subject individually, we will issue a public notice in a reasonable and effective manner. At the same time, we will proactively report the handling of the personal information security incident to the relevant supervisory authorities as required.

(3) If you become aware that your personal information has been leaked, particularly if your account credentials or passwords have been compromised, please contact us immediately so that we may take appropriate measures.

5.Your Rights

In accordance with the relevant laws, regulations, and standards of China, as well as the prevailing practices of other countries and regions, we safeguard the following rights that you may exercise with respect to your personal information:

5.1 Right to Access Your Personal Information

You have the right to access your personal information, except where exceptions apply under laws and regulations. If you wish to exercise your data access right, you may do so by accessing the information yourself through the following method: log into your account and view the personal information settings on the left side of the personal center homepage.

If you are unable to access the personal information you have provided through the above method, you may send an email to ndmhxmt@ndmh.com, and we will respond to your access request within 30 business days.

For any other personal information generated during your use of our services, we will provide it to you as long as doing so does not require disproportionate effort. If you wish to exercise your data access right, please send an email to ndmhxmt@ndmh.com.

5.2 Correction of Your Personal Information

When you discover that the personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, you have the right to request that we make corrections. You may make such corrections using the methods listed in "5.1 Access to Your Personal Information."

If you are unable to correct your personal information through the above methods, you may contact us at any time, and we will respond to your correction request within 30 business days.

5.3 Deletion of Your Personal Information

You may request that we delete your personal information in the following circumstances:

(1) If our processing of your personal information violates laws or regulations.

(2) If we collect or use your personal information without obtaining your consent.

(3) If our processing of your personal information breaches the agreement we have with you.

(4) If you no longer use our products or services, or you delete your account.

(5) If we cease to provide products or services to you.

If we decide to honor your deletion request, we will also notify the entities that have obtained your personal information from us, requesting that they promptly delete such information, unless otherwise provided by laws or regulations, or unless such entities have obtained independent authorization from you.

Once you delete information from our services, we may not immediately delete the corresponding information from our backup systems, but we will delete such information when the backups are updated.

5.4 Data Subject's Right to Cancel Account

You may cancel your previously registered account at any time. You may apply to us for account cancellation and deletion of your information through the contact methods provided on the platform.

After canceling your account, we will cease to provide you with products or services and will delete your personal information as requested by you, unless otherwise provided by laws or regulations.

5.5 Data Subject's Right to Request a Copy of Personal Information

You have the right to obtain a copy of your personal information. You may send an email to ndmhxmt@ndmh.com, and we will respond to your request within 30 business days.

5.6 Restriction on Automated Decision-Making by Information Systems

In certain business functions, we may make decisions based solely on non-human automated decision-making mechanisms, including information systems and algorithms. If such decisions significantly affect your legitimate rights and interests, you have the right to request an explanation from us, and we will provide appropriate remedies.

5.7 Responding to Your Above Requests

To ensure security, you may be required to submit a written request or otherwise prove your identity. We may ask you to verify your identity before processing your request. We will respond to your request within 30 business days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may also call us to file a complaint.

For reasonable requests, we generally do not charge a fee. However, for requests that are repeatedly made or exceed reasonable limits, we may charge a certain cost fee depending on the circumstances. We may refuse requests that are manifestly unfounded or repetitive, require disproportionate technical effort (such as developing a new system or fundamentally changing current practices), create a risk to the legitimate rights and interests of others, or are extremely impractical (such as requests concerning information stored on backup tapes).

We will be unable to respond to your request in the following circumstances:

(1) Where it relates to the performance of obligations under laws and regulations by the personal information controller.

(2) Where it is directly related to national security or national defense.

(3) Where it is directly related to public safety, public health, or major public interests.

(4) Where it is directly related to criminal investigation, prosecution, trial, or enforcement of judgments.

(5) Where the personal information controller has sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the data subject has acted in bad faith or abused their rights.

(6) Where it is necessary to protect the vital legitimate rights and interests of the data subject or another individual, such as life or property, yet it is difficult to obtain the individual's consent.

(7) Where responding to the data subject's request would cause serious harm to the legitimate rights and interests of the data subject or other individuals or organizations.

(8) Where it involves commercial secrets.

6.How We Process Children's Personal Information

Our website and services are primarily intended for adults. Children should not create their own accounts without the consent of a parent or guardian. In cases where we collect personal information of children with the consent of their parents, we will only use or disclose such information if permitted by law, explicitly consented to by the parent or guardian, or necessary to protect the child.

Although local laws and customs define children differently, we consider any person under the age of 14 to be a child.

If we discover that we have collected personal information of a child without first obtaining verifiable parental consent, we will take steps to delete the relevant data as soon as possible.

7.Updates to This Policy

To ensure the timeliness and accuracy of this Privacy Policy, we may modify and update it. Any changes made to this Policy will be posted on this page, and the revised Privacy Policy will take effect on the date of its publication.

Without your explicit consent, we will not reduce any rights you are entitled to under this Privacy Policy. We will post any changes to this Policy on this page. For material changes, we will also provide a more prominent notice, such as sending a notification via email, pop-up window, homepage announcement, or other means, explaining the specific changes to this Privacy Policy.

Material changes referred to in this Policy include, but are not limited to:

(1) Significant changes in our service model, such as the purposes of personal information processing, the types of personal information processed, and the ways in which personal information is used.

(2) Significant changes in our ownership structure or organizational structure, such as changes in ownership resulting from business adjustments, bankruptcy, mergers and acquisitions, etc.

(3) Material changes in the primary recipients with whom personal information is shared, to whom it is transferred, or to whom it is publicly disclosed.

(4) Significant changes in your rights related to the processing of your personal information and the ways in which you may exercise such rights.

(5) Changes in the department responsible for personal information security, our contact methods, or complaint channels.

(6) When a personal information security impact assessment report indicates a high level of risk.

We will also archive older versions of this Policy for your reference.

8.How to Contact Us

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please contact us using the following information:

Tel: 0086-10-83191160, 0086-10-83192876

Email: ndmhxmt@ndmh.com

WeChat Official Account: Journal of Neuroscience and Mental Health (ID: ndmh2016)

Address: No.2-1-7-302 East Alley Xiangluying Outside Xuanwumen Street, Beijing 100052, China

To ensure that we can efficiently handle your questions and provide timely feedback, you may be required to submit your identification documents, valid contact information, written request, and relevant evidence as appropriate. We will process your request after verifying your identity. In general, we will respond within 30 business days. In case of information security issues, we will respond within 72 hours.

For any dispute arising from this Policy or our handling of your personal information, you may contact us at any time to request a response. If you are not satisfied with our response and believe that our personal information processing activities have seriously damaged your legitimate rights and interests, you may also seek a solution by filing a lawsuit with the people's court with jurisdiction in Beijing, where the Publishing House of Journal of Neuroscience and Mental Health is located.

Thank you for your trust in and use of the website Journal of Neuroscience and Mental Health and the services provided by the Publishing House of Journal of Neuroscience and Mental Health!