Want to pitch a feature about mental health, psychology or neurodivergence, but not sure which publications are open to the kind of idea you have?
Today’s new roundup includes an up-to-date list of outlets that pay for writing in this space, with rates ranging up to $1/word and beyond.
But it’s worth reading through the whole list: there’s a broad mix of publications, audiences and angles, so you may find a better home for an idea you hadn’t considered pitching yet.
For every publication, I’ve included the practical details you need to act on it: pay information where available, editorial preferences, submission or pitching guidance, and relevant links.
And if you haven’t written about mental health before, don’t rule yourself out. It affects every part of life, work, relationships, identity, culture, family, sport, technology and more, so browsing these publications could be enough to uncover a strong angle for your next feature.
If you have insights into specific pay rates, or if you’ve been offered different terms than those listed here, please let me know by replying to this email or by messaging me on Substack.
Looking for other themed pitch roundups?
At the Freelance Writing Network, we regularly share themed pitch roundups for writers, including a collection of 120 outlets that pay up to (and beyond) $1 per word.
Each list includes practical pitching information, and it’s worth exploring them in full, as the best opportunity for your idea may not be the biggest name, or even an outlet you knew existed!
We’ve also got a collection of 120 publications paying up to (and beyond) $1 per word, which allows you to earn some of the better rates in the industry.
41 Publications Paying for Mental Health, Psychology & Neurodivergence Writing
Mental Health Tings is a blog for first-hand accounts of mental illness and neurodivergence, including how these experiences intersect with faith. It takes 800-1,200-word personal posts with a clear takeaway, plus 400-800-word reviews of books on mental illness, neurodivergence or healing. Submissions are reviewed once a year, between September and November. Pays $50 per blog post and $30 per book review, and the submission guidelines are here.
Discover Magazine want stories that enlighten, inform and get readers excited about science, capturing science that’s relevant to them. Their stories are grounded in research, but are driven by strong narratives, high reader interest and a conversational tone. They have a ‘Mind’ and ‘Health’ section on their website for relevant stories. For print, pay is up to $1/word. For web, typically $300/story. Guidelines here.
Psychology Today explores every aspect of human behavior, from the cultural trends that reflect the way we think to the inner workings of individual brains. Psychologists and mental health professionals read PT, as do curious and intelligent lay readers. They accept freelance pitches, details here. They have paid $0.50-$0.90/word in the past.