A mental health specialist has warned that the service in Wales is in crisis.

In BBC Wales's current affairs programme Taro Naw, due to be broadcast on Monday night, consultant psychiatrist Dr Huw Davies calls for immediate investment as the number of patients looks set to rise.

We are already in crisis. Investment is needed now, we can't afford to wait

Dr Huw Davies, consultant psychiatrist

One in 10 people in Wales suffers from depression, and it is expected that 20% of the population will experience a mental health problem during their lifetime.

The World Health Organisation estimates that by 2020 depression will be the second main cause of disability in the world - second only to heart disease.

"We do not have enough beds, not enough psychiatrists nor slots to see patients early on," said Dr Davies, who works in Bridgend, south Wales.

"In the meantime, their depression deteriorates. We are already in crisis.

"Investment is needed now, we can't afford to wait," he added.

In England, a National Service Framework for Mental Health was introduced two years ago, but there is no such plan as yet available for Wales.

So far the Welsh Assembly, which has prioritised mental health along with cancer and heart disease, has not decided on a framework nor extra expenditure for services in Wales.

A serious shortage of specialists in the field is adding to the problem - according to figures from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, 43 of the 139 consultant psychiatrist posts remain vacant in Wales.

Equality hope

The problems mean that few of the 290,000 current patients in Wales receive appropriate treatment.

"If you happen to be a patient in Wales the people who are there to help are under more pressure compared to the new resources being invested in England," said Dr Davies.

Author Gwyneth Lewis speaks of her experiences

"We're looking forward to the same equality before long."

In a statement to Taro Naw, the assembly said that recruiting problems were a UK-wide matter that is "not just related to Wales".

Officials added that some of the vacancies had come about as new posts had been created.

"The assembly is in regular contact with the Royal College and has agreed there should be a care group work force review to support the forthcoming National Service Framework for Mental Health in Wales," read the statement.

The statement went onto say that attempts to recruit consultant psychiatrists from overseas are under way.

In Taro Naw, two women speak of their personal experience with depression, including poet and author Gwyneth Lewis.

Depression is a serious illness and can in some cases lead to suicide - around 7,000 people kill themselves in Britain every year.