[Hospital spending differential on mental health between Catalonia and the OECD: a macroeconomic estimate]

To assess the public spending differential on mental health in Catalonia by estimating the gap between actual and predicted expenditures using macroeconomic variables.

A predictive model was developed based on public hospital mental health spending in OECD countries, adjusted for factors like gross domestic product per capita, population demographics, the share of mental health expenditure within total healthcare spending, income inequality and unemployment.

Applied to Catalonia in 2022, the findings reveal a significant underfunding of mental health services. Results indicate that Catalonia's expenditure was 44.72% below the predicted value for the sample of OECD comparable countries, corresponding to a funding shortfall of approximately €242 million.

The study highlights the necessity of increased investment in mental health, recommending a holistic approach encompassing preventative and community-based interventions to address broader social determinants of mental health.