THE number of people waiting for a first appointment for adult psychologist therapies in the Western Trust has steadily increased in the past two calendar years.

This was revealed under new data sourced via a Freedom of Information request to the Department of Health.

Such psychological therapies are commonly known as the "talking" therapies, with an individual working with a therapist to examine difficulties and to explore possible solutions.

Such therapies are aimed at treating a range of emotional problems, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, and an obsessive compulsive disorder.

The multidisciplinary service also offers treatment and specialist support for a range of eating disorders including anorexia and bulimia. To access these services, one must be referred.

The data sourced reveals that in January, 2019, there were 941 adults waiting for their first appointment for psychological therapies, but by December 2019 there were 1,310 people waiting for a first appointment.

The numbers continued to increase as 2020 began, with 1,340 people waiting for a first appointment in January 2020, rising to 1,386 people that February.

During the height of the coronavirus lockdown, there were 1,421 people waiting in March, 1,461 in April, and 1,475 waiting in May.

That month, the Western Trust had the most patients waiting for first appointments for adult psychological therapies across all of the health trusts in Northern Ireland.

In the same calendar month there were 554 people waiting in the Northern Trust, 558 waiting in the Southern Trust, 1,382 waiting in the South Eastern Trust, and 1,415 waiting in the Belfast Trust.

Last November, the Western Trust remained the health care trust with the most outpatients waiting on a psychological therapies first appointment, with 1,563 people waiting.

The number of people waiting for first appointments for adult mental health services fell throughout 2019 and 2020.

In January, 2019, there were 1,286 people waiting for a first appointment with the adult mental health services. One year later, there were 1,098 people waiting.

During the height of the pandemic in April, 2020, there were 1,104 people waiting for a first appointment – a slight increase from March, when 1,083 people were waiting.

This number fell last May when 1,055 people were waiting for a first appointment with adult mental health services.

By last November, the number of people waiting for an adult mental health service fell to the lowest across the reporting period, with 858 people waiting for a first appointment.