Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Nobody should be left to struggle with their mental health alone. But every day, thousands of people are waiting months for help, then finding the only door open to them is a busy A&E.

“These new centres will be a lifeline for so many,” he said.

“They will bring NHS services closer to home, making it easier to get support before problems get worse and ensuring those in crisis get the right care in the right place.”

The chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health, Andy Bell, said he welcomed the announcement on the whole – although was concerned that the mental health emergency departments had not been properly tested yet.

He also said children and young people, who will be able to use these services, needed their own dedicated hubs.

But he said he was “delighted” that the government was taking action on mental health after it had been neglected by successive governments for too long.

“This must now be backed up by investment, most crucially in the workforce needed to provide effective mental health care,” he said.

Stephen Jones, of the Royal College of Nursing, said he agreed investment in staff would be crucial if the new centres were going to cope with demand.

“More services closer to people’s homes are a crucial step towards more humane care,” he said.

But he added: “To succeed, both will need specialist mental health nurses at the centre.”

The Department of Health said that the initiative is backed by £343m and the first sites will open in autumn this year, with “further facilities following from March 2027”.