Hundreds of people waited more than three months for a second mental health treatment in Cornwall last year, figures show.

The findings come as a leading staff body for the profession says it is unacceptable so many are suffering delays for vital treatment across England. 

The NHS’s talking therapy service treats patients for common mental health problems like stress, anxiety and depression.

In the year to November 2022, around 6,650 patients received a second treatment in the former NHS Kernow CCG area – but 640 (9.6 per cent) had to wait more than 90 days from their first one.

This was a rise from seven per cent in the year to November 2019.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists said delaying treatment could put patients’ wellbeing at risk.

Dr Adrian James, the organisation’s president, said: “Some patients’ mental health may deteriorate if left untreated, which can have a detrimental impact on their quality of life and have potentially life-altering consequences.

“There is also a danger that long waiting lists will undermine people’s faith in mental health services and discourage them from seeking the support they need.”

He added staff are working as hard as they can but are struggling with limited resources and problems with retention and recruitment.

Across England, patients are facing lengthy waits for mental health treatment.

The figures show 154,000 people (22.5 per cent) were waiting more than three months between their first and second treatment in the year to November 2022, up from 120,000 (19.2 per cent) over the same period in 2018-19.

Mark Rowland, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation charity, said these statistics should come as no surprise given the huge pressures mental health services are facing.

He urged the Government to prioritise preventative approaches – focused on tackling mental health problems before professional help is needed.

Standards set by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence state 75 per cent of patients should get a first treatment within six weeks.

The figures show services in the former NHS Kernow CCG area were meeting that target in the year to November – with 91 per cent of 9,710 patients receiving treatment within six weeks. As of November, around 1,305 people were waiting for a first treatment in Cornwall – up from 880 in November 2019.

An NHS England spokesperson said: “The NHS is committed to increasing support for patients through its world-leading talking therapy services, and in November there were 60,000 more appointments completed compared to the previous month.”

The Department of Health and Social Care said it was already taking a preventative approach to tackling mental health issues and expanding access to the talking therapies service.