Mental health experts and campaigners have raised a series of concerns about the services being offered to sufferers during a summit held at the Scottish Parliament.
They cited bed shortages, lack of adequate staffing and waiting times among the issues.
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Jim Hume said the summit reflected "deep-seated, systemic problems" in the way that mental ill health is treated in Scotland.
The event, hosted by Mr Hume, brought together service users, medical experts, charities and mental health campaigners including the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, the British Medical Association, the Royal College of GPs and the Scottish Association for Mental Health.
Mr Hume said: "Staff in our NHS and third sector do fantastic work to help people suffering from mental ill health but we should be clear; there are deep-seated, systemic problems in the way that these services are supported at present.
"Participants at the summit today raised concerns over bed numbers, early intervention, waiting times, staffing levels and much more.
"Whether we are talking about services to support vulnerable children and young people or adults, we need to work together to ensure that people do not fall through the cracks in the system.
"At the summit today we heard from people who have struggled to access the support they need and were left to fend for themselves at the time they need our help the most.
"We heard from charities and campaigners who work with doctors and nurses who are doing their utmost but facing enormous workload pressures.
"The mental health sector and the participants at the summit today are speaking with one voice. It is time that the SNP government started listening."
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