Another 34 per cent of the 250 surveyed said the available resources were grossly inadequate.

The survey was undertaken by the NSW branches of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) and the Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation.

NSW Health chief psychiatrist Murray Wright said the concerns raised by the psychiatrists who participated in the survey were being taken very seriously.

"I look forward to discussing the survey findings further with the AMA and the NSW branch of RANZCP to better understand the issues and to look for opportunities for improvement," Dr Wright said.

"Where specific concerns are raised I will undertake to directly follow up with relevant Local Health Districts (LHDs)."

Problems with filling psychiatric positions were also highlighted in the survey with 31 per cent indicating positions were deliberately held vacant for too long and 13 per cent who said positions had been kept vacant indefinitely.

Almost one-quarter (24 per cent) said vacancies had been advertised promptly but were difficult to fill.

Those who said positions had been advertised and filled promptly accounted for 8 per cent of those surveyed.

"Local Health Districts have assured me that they are implementing strategies to deal with what are, in many instances, long term challenges in recruiting and retaining skilled psychiatrists," Dr Wright said.

"Local Health Districts are focused on recruiting specialists who can relocate to the district in which they are employed to provide continuous care to patients who require care."

When asked how the resourcing of psychiatrist and psychiatric medical positions and services during the past year was compared to other clinical services provided by the LHD, only 2 per cent said it had improved.

Thirty-one per cent said it had remained about the same, while 37 per cent indicated it had gotten worse or much worse.

However, NSW Health Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol director Peter Carter said budget allocations to LHDs and specialty health networks had increased during the past three years.

"The total 2014-15 Mental Health Services budget is $1.625 billion," he said.

Mr Carter said major costing reviews were undertaken at six and 12-month intervals and the results were part of regular performance monitoring by the Ministry of Health.