Revealing mental health status in Iran's capital: Putting equity and efficiency together

► Mental health of people considerably varies through different economic quintiles across the districts of Tehran. ► Average-oriented strategies do not suffice to rely on for improving mental health status and equity-oriented strategies should be considered. ► The 'extension to concentration index' has application in urban health policy by determining the importance of different economic quintiles. ► The 'achievement index' unmasks health status of the districts and therefore has policy implication by combining health averages with equity.