There should be 24/7 emergency support for people suffering with mental health issues, the Scottish Lib Dems have said.

The Lib Dem manifesto pledged full-time mental health support in Scottish A&E units, as part of a "step change" in how mental ill health is treated.

The party said this was essential due to new figures showing over 100,000 instances of mental health-related ambulance calls since 2007.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: "These figures show that ambulances have responded to people reporting mental ill health on nearly 100,000 occasions since the SNP came into government.

"But when these patients get to A&E, they will often face a long wait for support from overstretched mental health professionals."

Rennie added: "These vulnerable people can't wait on the SNP any longer. Liberal Democrats want a step change in the way that we treat mental health in Scotland.

"That is why we would put dedicated, 24/7 mental health support into A&E units across the country. This would make an enormous difference and ensure that people get the treatment they need as soon as possible."

The Lib Dems acquired the figures following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Their manifesto also pledged increased mental health support in Scotland's police and prison services.

Nicola Sturgeon said her party would employ "community link workers" to work in GP surgeries and direct people to services like mental health support and social security.

Speaking on a visit to Cupar in Fife, the First Minister repeated a key SNP manifesto pledge for NHS investment of £500m above inflation.

Sturgeon said: "As First Minister the NHS will always have my support. The SNP is the only party with a clear plan to transform the NHS for the future and to invest properly in our health service.

"We have already delivered record numbers of NHS staff - now we will target increases in staff in the areas that will help us to best transform health care in Scotland.

"A re-elected SNP Government will mean more GPs, more nurses, additional specialists in radiotherapy and extra paramedics.

"Community link workers will assist people with access to services such as social security, employment support and mental health care and an increase in health visitors will support our youngest children."

The Conservatives agree with the Lib Dems that dedicated, full-time mental health support should be available in all A&E departments.

The party's manifesto also called for an additional £300m to be invested in mental health treatment over the next parliament.

Additionally, the Tories want NHS spending to be protected by a "health guarantee", which would see the health budget rise by either inflation, Barnett consequentials or 2% - whichever is higher.

Health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said on Wednesday that the SNP had "failed to pass onto Scotland's NHS anything like the full spending increase seen down south".

The Greens have said that mental and physical health should be treated equally across all health and social care services.

The party also want to see a £9 an hour living wage and better conditions for social care workers, including paid travel time.

Health and social care spokesperson Alison Johnstone said: "By improving pay in social care we can improve recruitment and retention of staff, which in turn will address the gaps in social care provision that cause elderly and infirm people to sit in hospital when they could be being cared for at home."

Johnstone added: "We must see working conditions improved for carers, including paid travel time. It's simply unacceptable that so many carers are not compensated for the amount of time they spend travelling between clients."

Scottish Labour have been approached for comment.