Content Publication
Policy

Synapse Mental Wellbeing: Editorial, Content & Ethical Policy

Last Edited on Date: January 26, 2026

Jurisdiction: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

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This policy outlines the binding principles and standards governing all content published on the Synapse Mental Wellbeing website, blog, and associated digital platforms. By submitting content or posting comments, all contributors and users agree to adhere strictly to these standards.

1. Editorial and Quality Standards

1.1 Accuracy and Hierarchy of Evidence

All clinical claims must be grounded in established psychological principles. "Reliable sources" are strictly defined in the following hierarchy of evidence:

1. Peer-reviewed academic journals (e.g., APA, Lancet).

2. Government health agencies (e.g., WHO, NIMH, MoHFW).

3. Accredited medical associations.

   Content promoting unsupported theories, pseudoscience, or unproven "cures" is strictly prohibited.

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1.2 Tone and Voice

Content must align with the Synapse brand tone: warm, professional, empathetic, and non-judgmental. The focus must remain on promoting understanding, encouraging help-seeking behavior, and reducing stigma.

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1.3 Accessibility

Articles must be written in clear language accessible to a general audience. Technical psychological jargon must be defined upon first use.

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2. Ethical and Safety Standards

2.1 Strict Medical Disclaimer & No Doctor-Patient Relationship

Every piece of content, including blog posts and user comments, must prominently feature a disclaimer. Crucially, the consumption of content on this site, or communication through the website forms/comments, does not establish a doctor-patient, therapist-client, or professional relationship. All content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment.

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2.2 Inclusive and Non-Stigmatizing Language

Content must be free of stigmatizing or discriminatory language concerning mental health, gender, sexual orientation, culture, religion, or neurodiversity. We enforce person-first language.

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2.3 De-identification and Client Consent

Any use of case studies or anecdotes must be de-identified in accordance with GDPR and HIPAA standards.

• Explicit, written informed consent is required for any case material.

• Withdrawal Rights: If a client withdraws consent post-publication, Synapse reserves the right to remove the content immediately without penalty or notice.

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2.4 Self-Harm and Crisis Protocol

Content discussing sensitive topics (self-harm, suicidal ideation) must include immediate crisis resources (helplines) placed prominently at the top of the article or in a static, visible banner.

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3. Intellectual Property, Ownership, and Indemnification

3.1 Voluntary Contribution (No Monetary Compensation)

The Contributor acknowledges that their submission is a voluntary contribution.

• No Payment to Author: Synapse Mental Wellbeing shall pay no fee, honorarium, or royalty. The consideration for this agreement is strictly the professional exposure provided to the Author.

• No Pay-to-Play: Synapse Mental Wellbeing does not charge any submission or publication fees.

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3.2 Assignment of Copyright (Irrevocable)

In exchange for publication, the Contributor agrees to the following:

• Transfer of Ownership: The Contributor hereby assigns and transfers to Synapse Mental Wellbeing all right, title, and interest in and to the content, including the worldwide copyright.

• Irrevocability: This assignment is irrevocable, perpetual, and exclusive, subject only to the Limited Republication Rights defined in Section 3.7.

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3.3 Warranty of Originality

The Contributor warrants that the work submitted is 100% original, has not been previously published, and does not infringe upon the rights of any third party.

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3.4 Indemnification Clause

The Contributor agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Synapse Mental Wellbeing, its officers, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of:

1. The Contributor’s violation of this Policy;

2. Claims that the submitted content infringes upon the rights of a third party;

3. Any misrepresentation made by the Contributor.

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3.5 Attribution and Link Safety

All external data and quotes must be properly cited. Deep linking to illegal repositories (e.g., pirated research sites) is strictly prohibited. Internal linking to Synapse resources is encouraged for SEO and authority.

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3.6 AI-Generated Content & Audit Trail

Content created using AI tools is permissible strictly under the following conditions:

• Human Verification: It must be fact-checked by a qualified mental health professional.

• Audit Trail: The author must retain original source files for 90 days post-publication.

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3.7 Limited Republication Rights (Canonical Requirement)

While Synapse Mental Wellbeing retains copyright ownership, the Contributor is granted a limited, non-exclusive license to republish the content on their personal blog or portfolio strictly on the condition that the republication includes proper canonical attribution to protect Synapse’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO) authority.

• Canonical Tag: The republished version must utilize a rel="canonical" HTML tag pointing to the original URL of the article on the Synapse Mental Wellbeing website.

• Visible Attribution: The republished version must include a clearly visible text link at the beginning of the article stating: "This article was originally published on Synapse Mental Wellbeing" (hyperlinked to the original post).

• Non-Compliance: Republication without this specific canonical attribution constitutes a breach of copyright and the Author agrees to immediately take down the conflicting content upon request.

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4. Review, Governance, and User Interaction

4.1 Selection Criteria (Brand and Reputation)

Synapse Mental Wellbeing reserves the absolute right to reject any submission that, in its sole discretion, compromises the image, reputation, or ethical standing of the organization.

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4.2 Standard Clinical Review

Submissions undergo a standard review for general alignment with clinical principles. This does not constitute a peer-reviewed guarantee of medical perfection.

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4.3 Editing and Modification Rights

Synapse reserves the right to edit all submitted content for clarity, tone, and SEO without the author's approval.

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4.4 Retraction and Correction Policy

• Substantive Errors: Factual errors will be corrected with a "Correction Notice."

• Retraction: Unethical or dangerous content will be retracted immediately.

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4.5 Comment Policy & User-Generated Content Disclaimer

Synapse Mental Wellbeing welcomes community discussion but strictly governs the comments section:

• No Medical Advice: Comments offering medical advice or diagnoses will be deleted.

• Safe Space: Hate speech, harassment, or stigmatizing language is prohibited.

• Intermediary Liability: Synapse Mental Wellbeing acts as an "intermediary" regarding user comments. We expressly disclaim liability for any views, opinions, or statements posted by users. The views expressed in comments belong solely to the author of the comment and do not reflect the views of Synapse.

• Right to Remove: Synapse reserves the right to delete any comment for any reason, without notice.

• License to Use: By posting a comment, the user grants Synapse a perpetual, royalty-free license to reproduce, publish, and display that text.

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5. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

5.1 Reservation of All Rights

Synapse Mental Wellbeing reserves all rights not expressly granted in this policy. Failure to enforce any provision does not constitute a waiver.

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5.2 Mandatory Arbitration

Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to this Policy, or the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation, or validity thereof, including the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, shall be determined by binding arbitration.

• Arbitrator: The arbitration shall be conducted by a sole arbitrator appointed by Synapse Mental Wellbeing.

• Seat and Venue: The seat and venue of the arbitration shall be Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

• Language: The language of the arbitration shall be English.

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5.3 Governing Law and Exclusive Jurisdiction

This policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Subject to the arbitration clause above, the courts located in Bengaluru, Karnataka shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any legal proceedings arising out of or related to this Policy.