Moderation & Editorial Policy
How stories and replies are reviewed, protected, and published on In His Head.
1. Purpose of moderation
In His Head exists to give men a safe, supportive place to share what is going on in their minds and lives. Because people may speak about deeply personal, vulnerable, or emotionally heavy experiences, we follow a clear and careful moderation process.
Moderation on In His Head has three aims:
- Safety – to protect contributors, readers, and anyone mentioned in a story from harm or unwanted exposure.
- Respect – to ensure all content aligns with the mission of compassion, honesty, and encouragement.
- Clarity – to organise user-generated content in a way that is thoughtful, readable, and accessible.
2. How moderation works
2.1 Submission review
Every story and reply is manually reviewed before appearing publicly. During review we check for:
- Personal information that may identify you or someone else
- Content that could endanger a person’s safety
- Hate speech, harassment, insults, or targeted negativity
- Promotion of harmful behaviour
- Explicit mentions of criminal activity
- Content clearly submitted as spam or testing text
- Accidental inclusion of contact details (emails, socials, phone numbers)
2.2 Editing
We may lightly edit submissions to:
- Remove names, locations, or identifiable details
- Improve readability (punctuation, spacing, small grammar changes)
- Correct accidental formatting errors
- Add tags or categories for navigation
- Break long text into readable paragraphs
We do not change the meaning or emotional core of a story.
2.3 Rejection
We may decline to publish a story or reply if it:
- Contains direct personal attacks
- Includes identifiable third-party information
- Contains advice that may be unsafe or harmful
- Reads as promotional, misleading, or non-genuine
- Includes graphic detail inappropriate for general audiences
- Indicates immediate risk or crisis (in such cases we signpost to support resources, but we do not intervene directly)
Declined submissions are not published and are not used for any other purpose.
3. Anonymity & contributor protection
You may choose to post using:
- Your name
- A nickname
- “Anonymous”
If your story includes identifiable information (names, workplaces, schools, locations, etc.), we will remove or anonymise it before publication.
We encourage contributors to avoid:
- Naming specific individuals
- Describing identifiable locations
- Sharing phone numbers, emails, or social media handles
- Giving medical or legal instructions to others
Your safety and privacy come first.
4. Crisis-related submissions
In His Head is not a crisis service. We are unable to provide medical, therapeutic, or emergency support.
If a submission suggests that someone may be in immediate danger, the story will not be published. Instead, we signpost to relevant crisis organisations on the Support page.
If you or someone else is unsafe right now, please contact emergency services or a crisis helpline in your country.
5. What we publish
We accept a wide range of stories and reflections, including:
- Struggles with mental health
- Personal growth and recovery
- Experiences of fatherhood, relationships, work, or grief
- Moments of overwhelm or burnout
- Practical or emotional advice from lived experience
- Honest reflections on day-to-day life
Stories do not have to be dramatic or life-changing. Everyday experiences matter too.
6. Replies & community interaction
Replies are moderated with the same care as stories.
We allow:
- Supportive messages
- Empathy and encouragement
- Personal perspectives or reflections
We do not allow:
- Judgement, criticism, or shaming
- Medical or legal advice
- Attempts to contact the author
- Arguments, debates, or harassment
- Recruitment, promotion, or spam
Replies must help make this space safer—not harder—for the person who shared their story.
7. Publishing times
This project is run voluntarily. Most submissions are reviewed within 7 days, though busy periods may take longer.
If a story is time-sensitive, crisis-related, or difficult to interpret, review may take additional time.
8. Content removal
We reserve the right to remove a story or reply if:
- The contributor later asks for removal
- New information suggests a privacy or safety risk
- The content is misused or referenced harmfully
- The content no longer aligns with the project’s purpose
We will always act in favour of safety and respect.
9. Requesting edits or removal
If you submitted a story or reply and would like to:
- Edit it
- Remove it
- Change your displayed name
- Ask for a moderation decision to be reviewed
Please use the form on the Contact page. Include enough detail for us to identify your submission (for example, approximate date, story title, or topic).
10. Policy updates
This policy may evolve as the project grows. Any major changes will be reflected here with an updated revision date.
Closing statement
In His Head exists to make sure men feel less alone. Moderation is not about censorship—it is about guarding the emotional safety of everyone who opens up here and everyone who reads these stories.
Thank you for trusting this space with your experiences.