JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Understanding how mental health and addictions care is organized and how data are collected is essential for population-based research using administrative records. Catalonia (Spain) has a universal healthcare system and a consolidated mental health and addictions network. This viewpoint provides an overview of service delivery and the real-world data infrastructure supporting health research. We describe the organization of care following a stepped model, including primary care, specialized outpatient and inpatient services, emergency pathways, and support programs. We then map the main population-based registries and digital health platforms, assessing their scope, linkage capabilities, and limitations. Catalonia benefits from universal coverage, integrated policies, and extensive routine data collection across care settings. However, challenges remain, including incomplete interoperability, limited clinical granularity, and unvalidated diagnoses in primary care registries. This viewpoint serves as a reference framework for researchers working with administrative mental health data in Catalonia.