Editorial Policy at Agape Behavioral Health
Our Standards for Content Excellence
Mental health is one of the most personal and important subjects someone can research. When someone searches for information related to depression, anxiety, trauma, and other conditions, whether for themselves or someone they love, the quality of the information found matters greatly. Incorrect, out-of-date, or irresponsible information could confuse a person further, support negative stereotypes and stigma associated with mental illness, and potentially direct a person seeking treatment away from the care they need.
At Agape Behavioral Health, we consider this obligation very important. Each source of information, each article, and every single webpage posted on our site is held to Agape’s rigorous editorial standards to ensure the accuracy of the material presented. These standards were developed to maintain the quality of content we post and reflect our commitment to the well-being of all people we intend to serve.
Our Editorial Process
Meticulous Selection of Contributors
The quality of our content starts with the qualifications of the contributors who create it. Each author and contributor selected to write content for Agape’s website undergoes a thorough evaluation based on their background, professional experience, and credentials relative to their area of expertise in mental health, psychiatric care, or behavioral health education. Our content team includes experienced health writers who specialize in mental health issues and communicating clinical information clearly and concisely, avoiding jargon and stigmatizing language.
Rigorous Medical Review
Earning reader confidence requires more than having knowledgeable writers produce high-quality articles. It also requires clinical oversight.
Before publishing any substantive content on our website, all articles are reviewed by a licensed clinician. The reviewing clinicians will assess the content for clinical accuracy, appropriate representation of diagnoses and treatment approaches, and verify that all clinical recommendations align with current evidence-based practices in psychiatric and behavioral healthcare.
This review process helps to ensure that the information presented on our site reflects how mental illnesses are understood and managed by qualified professionals, not how they are misrepresented in media, popular culture, or outdated material.
Sourcing from Authoritative References
Agape also holds its sources to the same standard as we do our content. Clinical claims, statistical data, and treatment information reported on our website are produced from reputable academic sources including:
- Peer-reviewed journals
- Governmental agencies, including the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- National clinical practice guidelines
Unsubstantiated data, anecdotal reports, and commercially sponsored studies or research are never used as supporting documentation. Where applicable, sources are properly documented and cited so that readers can independently assess the validity of the supporting information.
Ongoing Review and Updates
Research on mental health continues to evolve, and our content will evolve with it.
Publishing content is not the end of our editorial process. Once a piece of content is published on our website, it becomes part of an ongoing effort to provide up-to-date information to our readers.
Our editorial staff periodically reviews our published content to determine if our information is current, if new changes warrant revisions, and whether any clinical guidance has changed since the time of original publication.
If any changes are made to a previously published article or page, those updates are noted clearly so that readers will always know they are seeing the most current information.
Our Commitment to Compassionate, Stigma-Free Language
Accuracy is important, but at Agape Behavioral Health, we also want to provide an environment where people can seek help without stigma.
The way mental health is written about determines how it is understood and how people will feel about seeking help when they need it. We want to treat each mental health issue as seriously as any other medical condition.
At Agape Behavioral Health, we are committed to using person-first language and writing about mental health in a non-stigmatizing way, reflecting our commitment to treating every person living with a mental health condition with respect and compassion, not judgment.
Our editorial standards are not just about clinical correctness. The standards we hold ourselves to are about creating a sense of community and ensuring everyone who visits our site knows they are valued and respected, and a little less alone.
Questions About Our Content
Do you have any questions or concerns about a specific article? Feel information should be reviewed or updated? Or are you curious about the sources behind specific claims made in an article or blog? Feel free to reach out and let us know. We welcome any and all feedback, and we are committed to maintaining the integrity of everything we publish.
