Nine former health secretaries have voiced their “alarm and dismay” towards today’s mental health services, a report has revealed.

The former secretaries came together to urge Prime Minister Theresa May to honour David Cameron’s pledge that the NHS would treat mental health equally to physical health.

They said “warm words” are yet to be backed by action.

In a letter signed by Lord Lansley, Stephen Dorrell, Kenneth Clarke, Andy Burnham, Alan Johnson, Patricia Hewitt, John Reid, Alan Milburn, and Frank Dobson, they warned that the Government is not doing enough to tackle the growing mental health crisis.

“Despite the warm words, one year on we see the same enduring injustice, the massive economic cost and the distress suffered by countless families across the country,” they said.

“Despite promised increases in funding, mental health trusts are still suffering cuts.

“Suicide remains the biggest killer of men under 45, people in crisis are still routinely shunted across the country in search of a hospital bed, children with eating disorders are too often turned away from services, and there is a growing mental health crisis among young women.”

In defence, the current Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said his regime is making progress towards its goal in addressing the difficulties faced by those with mental health problems.

He said clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) had increased spending by £693 million, and every area in the country has put together plans to transform children’s mental health services.

He added that suicide prevention strategy is also to be “refreshed”.