The failure to tackle the children's mental health crisis costs the UK over £1tn in lifetime lost earnings, researchers focusing on mental health warn.
Research by the Future Minds Campaign has revealed that poor mental health is holding back the Government’s growth plans through reduced tax receipts and increased benefit spending.
It also costs employers £24bn a year in lost productivity and £1tn in lost earnings.
Cllr Arooj Shah, chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said that children’s services needed to be adequately funded in the upcoming Spending Review.
She added that the Government should review mental health support teams in schools and support councils to provide parenting programmes and local peer support networks.