The number of people with mental health problems sleeping on the street is rising, extensive new research by a homelessness charity suggests.

St Mungo’s surveyed professionals working with homeless people across the country and found that 62 had seen a significant increase in people with mental health problems sleeping rough in their area.

Figures gathered through assessments in London also show the number of rough sleepers with an identified mental health problem has more than tripled over the previous parliament – from 711 in 2009-10 to 2,342 in 2014-15

While the total number of rough sleepers has risen in England in recent years, the increase in the number of people with mental health problems on the streets has outpaced other groups.

Statistics released by the communities department yesterday show the overall number of rough sleepers up by 30 per cent over 2015, and a 102 per cent increase since 2010, when David Cameron first came to power.

In November last year the King’s Fund health service think tank warned that cuts to mental health services were putting lives at risk.

St Mungo’s found that in 2014-15, 17 out of the 25 people recorded sleeping in London, who had their needs assessed, and who died during that year, suffered from mental health problems.

In October the Government launched a national campaign to end the stigma of mental health problems but the policy came amid a backdrop of sharp cuts to mental health services, with £35 million cut in 2014.

Research by the charity Mind has also found that sanctions in the Government’s welfare programmes were making mental health problems worse.

Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Show all 9 1 /9 Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 2014 27 per cent of people who suffer from anxiety say work issues, such as long hours, are the source of the problem. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 2014 Only seven per cent of people who say they suffer from anxiety seek help from their GP. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 2014 Almost one in five people feel anxious all or a lot of the time. PA Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 2014 45 per cent of people who feel anxious in everyday life cite financial issues as their biggest cause of worry. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 2014 And 26 per cent of people who feel anxious say fearing for the welfare of their children and loved ones leaves them burdened with worry. And 26 per cent of people say fearing for the welfare of their children and loved ones leaves them burdened with anxiety. Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 2014 30 per cent of people deal with anxiety by talking to a friend or relative, or by going for a walk. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 2014 But 16 per cent use alcohol to cope, while 10 per cent turn to cigarettes in the face of anxiety. Unemployed people are more likely to resort to these harmful strategies: 27 per cent use alcohol and 23 per cent use cigarettes. AFP/Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 2014 People are thought to be more anxious than they were five years ago. Alessandra/Flickr Creative Commons Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 2014 The stresses of modern life are thought to have created "The Age of Anxiety". Getty

Howard Sinclair, chief executive of St Mungo’s, has written to the Prime Minister asking him to roll out a national rough-sleeping strategy that includes mental health assessments and professional support.

“Few would disagree that it’s nothing short of a scandal that people with mental health problems are sleeping rough. Not only that, but this incredibly vulnerable group are more likely to remain in dangerous and unhealthy situations for longer,” he said.

“The very real concern is both the shocking, unprecedented rise in people who are sleeping rough, and evidence that more of this group are struggling with poor mental health.”

Marcus Jones, homelessness minister at the Department for Communities and Local Government, said the Government had protected funding to help with the issue.

“No one should ever have to sleep rough, which is why we have increased central funding to tackle homelessness over the next four years to £139 million.

“We have protected homelessness prevention funding and expect local authorities to provide quality advice and assistance to all those that approach them for help.