A question often asked by service providers proposing any new service is: ‘What is the cost of this to us?’ The enquirer is framing another question, perhaps not so tangibly: ‘Can we afford to do this?’ Perhaps the more appropriate question regarding the provision of adequate services for young people, especially those with a mental health disorder, should be: ‘Can we afford not to deliver this service adequately?’ Should providers pose that question, examine their responses and ascertain how they can best deliver the required service to ensure a reasonable investment return? It is argued that investment in preventive interventions should be at the forefront of decision making, but acknowledged that this is not the case within current NHS practices concerning mental health disorders.