The children’s mental health crisis will cost them more than £1 trillion in lost earnings over their lifetime, campaigners are warning. The findings have been released by the Future Minds campaign, which warns that the scale of the problem will impact economic growth unless action is taken, with employers facing losses of £24bn a year through lost productivity.

Better early help should be provided to prevent problems reaching crisis point, when more expensive in-patient care and emergency services help is required, campaigners also urge. They say the cost of deteriorating mental health caused by delays between young people being referred and receiving support is £295m a year.

“The cost to an individual young person who is struggling with their mental health without the right support is devastating, and the toll is felt on families, friends and the communities around them. But it also has a huge cost to the economy, one that will impact the whole of society.” Said Young Minds chief executive Laura Bunt.