THE government has been urged to invest in childhood or risk losing the next generation to poor mental health, a charity has warned.

Mental health problems among young people have risen significantly, affecting one in five of those aged eight to 25, according to a new report by the Centre for Mental Health.

The charity warned of significant economic consequences, highlighting that the long-term impact of childhood mental health problems costs Britain about £1 trillion in lost earnings over the course of working lives.

Among the actions identified to help tackle this are calls for an increase in funding for training and resources to ensure adequate staffing levels for health visitors and school nurses following successive cuts to the workforce.

Other suggestions included the improvement of mental health support for mothers during the perinatal period, evidence-based parenting programmes and investment in community-led prevention activities. 

Andy Bell, chief executive at Centre for Mental Health, said: “Mental health difficulties among children and young people are both common and serious. 

“They cause deep distress for children and their families. They cast a long shadow over a child’s life. 

“Preventing mental health problems is highly cost-effective. It saves money and lives.” 

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We have already announced £26 million to open new mental health crisis centres, are recruiting 8,500 additional mental health workers and putting a specialist mental health professional in every school in England.

“Through our Plan for Change, we will raise the healthiest generation of children in our history by reforming the NHS to give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health.”