Waiting times for children and young people seeking mental health treatment have decreased, according to new figures.

A total of 4,025 young people started treatment with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the period July to September, down from 4,642 in the previous quarter.

Of these, nearly eight out of 10 (78.8%) were seen within 18 weeks, compared to 77.6% in the previous quarter and 73.1% in the same period last year.

The Scottish Government has set the target that 90% of young people referred to CAMHS should start receiving treatment within 18 weeks.

Six of Scotland's health boards - NHS Borders, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Orkney, NHS Tayside and NHS Western Isles - met the 18-week standard.

Of the young people starting treatment in the period July to September, 100 had waited for more than a year, down from 147 in the previous quarter but up from just 22 in the same period last year.

Separate figures on waiting times for psychological therapies show a drop in the proportion seen within 18 weeks over the quarter, down from 81.2% between April to June to 79.6%.

The Scottish Government highlighted statistics showing the number of CAMHS staff has increased by 50.2% since 2006, up from 653.7 whole time equivalent posts to 981.8.

The number of psychologists has increased by 59.7% while the number of nurses has risen by 48.5% and occupational therapy staff numbers are up 27.2%.

Mental health minister Maureen Watt said: "These figures shine a light on the way that the mental health workforce has been transformed under this government.

"While it's encouraging to see an upturn in performance against the 18-week waiting-time standard, I will not be satisfied until we're meeting this target on a consistent basis.

"An improvement team is working with boards who are experiencing particular pressures and others who are performing well to understand what is working and what needs to change.

"There are early signs that this work is bearing fruit but we will continue to work with boards to deliver further improvement."

The Scottish Government will shortly publish a new mental health strategy which Ms Watt said would be backed by £150 million of extra investment.

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: "These appalling statistics are further evidence, not that it were needed, that we need a step change in the way that we treat mental health.

"The SNP allowed our mental-health strategy to expire and have reduced the share of the budget spent on mental health. Staff are working around the clock but they aren't getting the support they need.

"That is why we need a new strategy that will transform mental health services, record levels of funding and to end the long journeys for treatment by creating new specialist beds for children north of Dundee. Ministers cannot drag their feet and leave children stranded on waiting lists any longer."

Labour inequalities spokeswoman Monica Lennon said: "The SNP government's performance on mental health is nothing short of a national disgrace.

"If the missed targets we see for waiting times in mental health were replicated in A&E wards there would be a national outcry. These figures cannot be brushed under the carpet.

"Every political party agrees that mental health should be treated with parity of esteem with physical health and acute services. But we are way past the point where warm words alone are acceptable from the SNP government, we need to see action.

"As a short-term measure, the SNP should publish its mental health strategy before the new year."

Last month Ms Watt said she would consider delaying the publication of the mental health strategy until January in order for Holyrood's health committee to contribute to a consultation following a request from the committee's Labour convener Neil Findlay.