The devastating reality of appalling NHS mental health services is laid bare in a shocking report showing people are waiting too long and not able to access care they need when they need it.

An audit of more than 14,000 people who accessed community mental health services found that 4 in 10 are languishing on mounting waiting lists.

One third waited three months or more for their first treatment and 40% said they did not receive any support while they waited.

More than 4 in 10 said their mental health deteriorated while waiting for care.

The annual survey carried out by the Care Quality Commission highlighted “persistent gaps” in care as the crisis deepens.

More young people using Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) reported needing support in accessing care than last year but the number who reported getting help for their physical needs fell.

In a damning indictment of the parlous state of services one accessing CAMHS did not know who to contact in a crisis.

Worryingly, more than one third who did access crisis care said they did not get the help they needed and in 36% of instances no support was given to their family or carers during the crisis

Workforce issues remain a critical issue with more than 10,000 empty mental health nursing posts.

The CQC’s Interim Director of Mental Health Jenny Wilkes, said: “This report lays bare the devastating reality that people are still not getting the mental health support they need, when they need it.

“This is particularly stark when looking at young people – we know that early intervention is critical in making sure people get the support they need and too often this is not happening.

“Too many people are waiting too long for the care they need – and experiencing a deterioration in their mental health while they wait. This, coupled with pressures such as high workforce vacancies, is causing a bottleneck of supply and demand – and people’s health and often their ability to contribute to society is suffering as a result.

“Workforce issues and underfunding need to be addressed urgently in order to drive the improvements that people with mental health issues need and deserve.”