Shi J, Tang L, Jing L, et al. - On the basis of the electronic health record data, all of the mental hospitalization data from different types of public health institutions in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China, from 2013 to 2016 was collected by the researchers in order to contrast the utilization of mental health services among inpatients in different types of health institutions in Shanghai (community healthcare centres, secondary general hospitals, tertiary general hospitals, and specialty hospitals). More inpatients were admitted to specialty psychiatric hospitals in Pudong New Area, Shanghai and were treated with more severe disorders. Community health centers was most likely selected by those who were male, were elderly, had inferior insurance, had a longer length of stay and had lower costs, in comparison with specialty hospitals. Those who favored the secondary and tertiary hospitals over the specialty ones were more inclined to be in the male, elderly, married, shorter length of stay and higher-cost groups. Prominently, those who had urban social insurance for citizens or paid out-of-pocket were significantly assembled in the tertiary hospitals rather than the specialty hospitals, in contrast to those with urban social insurance for workers. In conclusion, the elementary health services were chosen by inpatients who were male, were older, had inferior insurance, had a more prolonged length of stay and had lower costs. Nevertheless, the utilization of mental healthcare in high-tier institutions exhibited defects, particularly the fact that the current health insurance system does not sufficiently restrict individuals’ choices, and those who paid more favored to select tertiary hospitals instead of professional specialty ones. Thus, to give a more integrated mental health system, psychiatric services should be improved by instituting reforms, including public education, improved health insurance, a vigorous referral system, and competency reinforcement for primary care physicians.