I artiklen "Targeted group-based interventions in schools to promote emotional well-being: A systematic review" af Gemma Cheney (University of Hull), Annette Schlösser (University of Hull), Poppy Nash (University of York) and Lesley Glover (University of Hull) i "Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry" beskrives, hvorledes:

"... children with mental health problems are more likely than peers to have co-morbid physical, educational and social difficulties, and are vulnerable to numerous poor outcomes in adulthood (Caspi, Moffitt, Newman, & Silva, 1996; Price & Robins, 1991). It is acknowledged that early intervention to improve mental health has considerable potential to benefit not just the individual, but also their family and society as a whole.

A number of studies attempt to calculate the costs of missing this opportunity. Economic research suggests that the cumulative cost of public services used by individuals with ‘troubled behaviour’ as children was 10 times higher than for those with no problems (Donovan & Spence, 2000; Spence & Dadds, 1996). Therefore, it has been argued that investing resources in children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) represents good value for money in the long term (Department for Education and Skills (DfES), 2005)."

Konklusion: Økonomiske studier viser, at kan vi sætte tidligt ind og afbøde eller ligefrem forebygge psykiske lidelser, som børn med "problematisk opførsel" senere pådrager sig, så kan vi nedbringe offentlige udgifter til disse børn (behandling, overførselsindkomst, etc.) med op til 10 gange!

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