Social media networks should offer free advice to those suffering from mental health problems, the Scottish Conservatives have said.

The initiative forms part of the party's new mental health policy package, which involves an additional £300m being spent on the issue over the next five years.

One in five adults in Scotland reported symptoms of depression in 2015, a 14% rise from the previous year.

The Scottish Government will publish its ten-year mental health strategy in the coming weeks.

In the Holyrood election in May, the SNP promised an additional £150m over the next five years to "improve mental health services".

The policy includes:

Party leader Ruth Davidson said: "For too long there's been a failure to recognise mental health issues as being just as urgent and debilitating as physical injuries.

"As we stated in our manifesto in May, there needs to be a step change in the amount of support we currently offer to those suffering from mental ill health.

"That is why we are calling for an extra £300m to be spent over the course of this parliament on improving services, and ensuring that no one has to wait too long to receive treatment."

She continued: "With the Scottish Government's ten-year mental health strategy due to be published next year, we hope these ideas will help inform the debate about how we achieve the most effective strategy possible.

"We need a vibrant and far reaching debate on these issues to ensure that Scots have access to the best possible mental health services that we can provide."

The Scottish Children's Services Coalition (SCSC), an alliance of providers of services to vulnerable children and young people, welcomed the launch of the Conservatives' mental health strategy.

A spokesman said: "Any contribution to improving the mental health of our children and young people is to be welcomed, and we therefore welcome this contribution by the Scottish Conservatives to this.

"This is an issue that is apolitical, spanning the political divide, and we have always welcomed the commitment all political parties have made to address this important issue.

"We know that half of all diagnosable mental health problems start before the age of 14 and 75% by the age of 21.

"As such it is vitally important that we radically improve mental health services and increase investment in these, with an overall aim of ensuring that children and young people get the help they need, when they need it."

The Scottish Government said they will consider the proposals made by the Conservatives.

Mental health minister Maureen Watt said: "We are considering a wide range of views as we take forward the strategy in the new year, which will have the principle of 'ask once, get help fast' at its heart.

"Mental health is an absolute priority for this government, as demonstrated by our additional £150m investment over five years in improving treatment and innovation.

"Mental health spending has increased substantially under this government and has supported the increase in the mental health workforce to historically high levels."