The following is a list of literary journals by / for people with mental illness, or about mental health. These publications have a creative (rather than lifestyle) focus.

* Inclusion here does not equal endorsement. Please do your own research before submitting.

All links are current as of November 2022. If you find a non-working link, or if you know a publication that should be added to / deleted from this list, please let me know.

Thank you!

— Nicole Melanson

 

Ailment – Chronicles of Illness Narratives

Submissions from patients (those with chronic mental and physical illness), caretakers, family and friends affected by a loved-one’s illness and practitioners (healthcare providers) will be considered. Responses to the creative prompt may be submitted in non-fiction, essay, poetry, photography, drawing or painting form.

 

Amygdala

* CLOSED

Amygdala’s goal is to build a sense of community by creating a platform for people to bring mental health issues into dialogue. We seek to achieve this through original works including: creative non-fiction, fiction, poetry, and art. We are looking for work that elucidates the wide range of issues and emotions mental health disorders evoke.

 

Asylum: The Radical Mental Health Magazine

Asylum is published 4 times a year and is a forum for free and open debate about controversial issues in mental health and psychiatry. They accept articles, stories, poetry, cartoons and other art with mental health themes.

 

The Awakenings Review

The Awakenings Review is one of the nation’s leading literary reviews entirely committed to publishing the works of artists, writers, and poets with mental illness.

 

Bed Head Poetry Press

Bed Head Poetry Press is a new poetry publication for writers exploring their experiences with mental health.

 

Blanket Sea

Blanket Sea is an arts & literary magazine dedicated to showcasing the work of artists and writers living with chronic illness, mental illness, and disability.

 

Buddy. A Lit Zine

* CLOSED

Buddy considers writing on any topic, of any style and by writers of any experience. We are also a safe space for writing about mental health (MH).

 

Doll Hospital

Doll Hospital is an art and literature journal on mental health.

 

Luna Luna

Luna Luna is an online diary and community dedicated to personal essay, poetry, idea, magical living, exploration of shadow and truth.

 

Mande

The brainchild of two bipolar writers, Mande is open to submissions from bipolar artists and writers on any topic. We also publish work by people familiar with bipolar, as long as it’s directly relevant; the ideal case would be a piece on a person who lives with bipolar.

 

The Mirror Magazine

The Mirror is a submissions-based literary arts magazine working in alliance with Active Minds at Ithaca College to generate conversation surrounding mental health through creative media. Through art, photography, personal essay, fiction, and poetry that reflect on mental health, we create to open an opportunity to break the silence.

 

Open Minds Quarterly

Open Minds Quarterly is a glossy 28-page consumer magazine with paid circulation, which features poetry, memoir, fiction, interviews, reviews and other writing and art by people whose experiences are often diagnosed as mental illnesses or addictions, and by our supporters and allies.

 

Outsider Poetry

* CLOSED

Outsider Poetry, a literary review for those who create with mental illness, are self-trained, or create art and poetry that challenges cultural and academic norms.

 

Peculiars Magazine

* CLOSED

Peculiars Magazine is a platform created with the aim of bringing awareness around mental health, through art. We showcase artists from all over the world: some are photographers, some are poets, some are illustrators, some are writers… but they all have one thing in common: they’re fighting their demons. They’re survivors.

 

The Perch

The Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health’s online literary magazine, The Perch, complements our program’s core focus on issues of health in the community and personal journeys through life. Our magazine takes a broad and holistic view of mental health as encompassing its physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects.

 

Psychological Perspectives: A Quarterly Journal of Jungian Thought

This unique and substantial publication voices, explores and documents a wide range of professional and personal issues related to Jungian thought and practice. The journal offers original articles, interviews, fiction writing, book, video and film reviews, art, illustrations and poetry.

 

Ripe Literary Journal

Ripe is a new online literary & arts mag that seeks to publish work that doesn’t quite make it into the basket. We especially encourage poc, lgbtq+, and those with disabilities to submit.

 

Silakbo

Silakbo is an effort to uplift stories in the context of mental health awareness. As art allows for catharsis and self-expression, we aim to uplift stories of mental health awareness through creative means: be it a poem, a painting or a playlist, any medium that best expresses your story is welcome. 

 

Tap Lit Mag

* CLOSED

|tap| lit mag aims to publish poetry and prose by marginalized voices on the themes of trauma, grief, mental health, and social justice.

 

Transition Magazine

Transition Magazine is a truly unique publication, published twice annually by the Saskatchewan Division of Canadian Mental Health Association. We solicit original, unpublished articles, as well as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, book reviews, and visual art (black and white) that represent current mental health issues in our province and reflect on their impact on individuals.

 

Turtle Way

Turtle Way™ is an online creative arts magazine showcasing the work of individuals suffering and recovering from mental illness. Each issue of Turtle Way™ may include poetry, photography, artwork, and prose (including quotes, meditations, opinion pieces and essays) from individuals with mental illness and/or those who love them.