A mental health expert has welcomed changes to the NHS 111's 24-hour helpline to support people experiencing a mental health crisis, but warned additional funding will be needed to ensure it is a success.

NHS England announced adults and children who need support for a mental health crisis can now call the 24 hour helpline and press option two to be directed to a mental health specialist.

Although new to England, the service has been available in Wales and Scotland for a number of months.

Lynn Crilly, an author and mental health counsellor, praised the move as a "huge step forward in the recognition of mental health issues".

Ms Crilly, whose daughter Samantha was diagnosed with an eating disorder and OCD 20 years ago, said the move was needed to ensure the conditions are given the same attention as physical ones.

She said: "Having been involved in mental health care in England for the past 20 years, this to me is a huge step forward in the recognition of mental health issues as equal to physical health problems.

"Now people in need of medical support can speak to a specialist who can listen and guide them to services such as face to face community support or access to services like ‘crisis cafes’ or other safe places."

However, the campaigner, who has produced a film highlighting what it is like to live with an eating disorder, said she will “wait to see how this service plays out” in a “broken” mental health service.

"There are record numbers of people experiencing poor mental health in an already over stretched and underfunded, broken mental health system," she continued

"With waiting lists at an all-time high, there are some who are sceptical that this service will work."

According to a survey among 1,500 of Ms Crilly's followers, 55 per cent would use the new NHS 111 service for mental health support.

However, only 53 per cent thought the service would help, with 43 per cent saying they believed it would not.

Ms Crilly said she had “hope” the service would benefit more people than not, but warned it would need additional support to be able to cope.

“From my experience there needs to be funding allocated to mental health services and those organisations who provide support on behalf of the NHS if they want to make the difference which is desperately needed,” she said.