The number of NHS mental health workers who have taken sick leave in the past five years has grown 22 per cent, new figures show.

According to a report, published by the BBC, those taking long-term leave of a month or more rose from 7,580 in 2012/13 to 9,285 in 2016/17.

Experts suggested that cuts to staff and services were putting considerable mental health pressure on workers.

Dave Munday, mental health professional lead at union Unite, which represents 100,000 health workers across the UK, said: “These figures are of real concern and they only tell part of the story.

“We know that many more mental health professionals will feel unwell but try to ‘soldier on’ or mask the real reason they’re taking leave.

“Our members tell us workplace stress is increasing and that cuts to staff and services mean they’re working longer hours with fewer resources.

“Staff themselves are feeling the impact of austerity and there’s a lack of trust in the often repeated but not fulfilled promises of the current government.”

A spokesman for the Royal College of Nursing said: “Mental health staff face unique challenges. The pressure to make the right decision and provide care for extremely vulnerable people against a backdrop of staff shortages, can take its toll on their health and wellbeing.

“More than 40,000 mental health staff are assaulted every year, and too often violence is seen as ‘part of the job’ by employers, and the authorities.

“This isn’t good enough. We want to see action on work-related stress, including violence at work which, as well as physical injuries, adds to burnout stress, and depression.”

The Department of Health added: “We are transforming mental health care for everyone in this country, including NHS employees, with record amounts of investment.

“There is more to do – that is why we are undertaking one of the largest expansions of mental health services in Europe, so that all staff have the time to look after themselves as well as others.”