NHS call centres are being swamped by people with mental health problems, taking one plea for help every three minutes.
Figures show that 999 and 111 jointly had 181,272 such calls last year – up 44 per cent from 125,993 in 2015/6. They were made by people suffering conditions like PTSD, post natal depression and bi-polar disorder.
And the figures from NHS digital revealed that calls peak over the weekend – when other support services are closed.
Mental Health charity MIND blamed the rise on a lack of funding. MIND’s Leila Reyburn said: “A mental health crisis is an emergency just like a physical health emergency. We want people to get the help they need before they reach crisis point and need emergency services.”
Former health minister, Lib Dem Norman Lamb
Mr. Lamb said: “These figures lay bare the scale of the mental health crisis in this country and growing levels of unmet need.”
The Department of Health said an extra £1billion of funding is being ploughed into mental health services over the next three years.