Objective  To examine the situation and variation in allocation equity of hospital beds for mental diseases in Mainland China from 2006 through 2015 for providing evidences to effective allocation of mental health resources.

  Methods  The study data on demographics, economics and health resource allocation in 2006, 2010 and 2015 for 31 province-level regions in China were collected from published government documents, survey reports, and national statistics yearbooks. Excel 2010 and STATA16 were used in data process and statistical analyses. Concentration curves of hospital beds by population, geographical area and local gross domestic production (GDP) per capita were drawn and the concentration index was calculated to compare the equity in allocation of hospital beds for mental diseases in different years.

  Results  The total number of hospital beds for mental diseases in Mainland China increased from 145 550 in 2006 to 433 090 in 2015 and the increment in the total number of beds during 2010 – 2015 was higher than that during 2006 – 2010; the total number of hospital beds for mental diseases increased by 521.18% in Guizhou province during the 10 year period, with the highest increment among the 31 province-level regions. An inequitable allocation of hospital beds for mental diseases in Mainland China was observed for the years of 2006, 2010 and 2015. The economic condition rank-based concentration index for the allocation dropped from 0.347 in 2006 to 0.312 in 2015, indicating the improved equity but the population size-based concentration index rose from 0.24 in 2006 to 0.32 in 2015, displaying an increased inequity; while, the geographical region-based concentration index was negative in 2006 and 2015, but it increased from – 0.03 in 2006 to – 0.01 in 2015, demonstrating a gradually improved equity tending towards to an absolute equity.

  Conclusion  The population size- and geographical region-based allocation of of hospital beds for mental diseases in Mainland China was inequitable during 2006 – 2015 but the inequity was improved gradually.