The study, by charity Youth Access, found that child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are significantly more expensive than information, advice, counselling and support services, when analysed on a case-by-case basis.
The outcomes achieved by both types of intervention are broadly comparable, with information, advice, counselling and support services proving slightly more successful on average.
The report also examined the social return on investment in services, in terms of preventing mental ill health, youth offending and youth homelessness, among other factors.
It found that providing one young person with access to youth information, advice, counselling and support could save the public purse £115,000 in a year and up to £2m over a lifetime.
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