Mental Health Information Network Privacy Policy

The Mental Health Information Network does not automatically collect any personally identifiable information about individuals visiting the MHIN website. The MHIN web servers may automatically record some of the following information the about visitors.

Internet Protocol (IP) Address

The IP address is a number assigned to your computer by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) when you connect to the Internet. The IP address allows your computer to communicate with other computers and web servers on the World Wide Web. The IP address does not contain any personal information about you, or your computer, but it may indicate the identity of your Internet Service Provider, an organizational affiliation or your geographic location. The MHIN uses this information only in aggregate form to determine the number of unique visitors to specific web pages on the MHIN website.

Web Browser and Operating System

The MHIN web servers may record the web browser you are using (i.e. Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator) and the type of operating system running on your computer (i.e. Windows 98). This information is used to assist us in designing our website to be accessible to the widest possible audience.

E-mail and Forms

No personally identifiable information you send to us through e-mail or input forms on the MHIN website will be revealed to anyone outside of the MHIN staff. General information regarding reference questions, comments or difficulties with the website will only be shared with affiliated organizations, such as The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and the National Library of Medicine, to improve the services offered by the MHIN, or for the purposes of reporting on the effectiveness of the services offered. Personally identifiable information, such as names and email addresses obtained from any communication with the MHIN will never be released to third party or affiliated agencies.

Cookies

Cookies are small text files placed on your computer that can allow a website to recognize you as a returning visitor and store preferences for subsequent visits to the same website. For example if you personalize the weather displayed on the New York Times website to Boston, a cookie will be left on your computer that will remember your choice on your next visit.

The MHIN uses a cookie only to prevent the MHIN User Survey from displaying more than once on a visitors computer. The MHIN does not attempt to track, or record, user behavior with cookies.

Your Privacy on the Internet

For more information about the protection of your private information on the Internet, visit these U.S. Government websites.