Common sense says invest in the future.

The imminent closure of the Waves project in Weymouth marks an unsettling lack of said common sense and a strong abandonment of moral consideration.

Both from common knowledge and personal experience with the service, it is undeniable that CAMHS bears a gargantuan task of caring for the next generation.

So from no moral, long-term fiscal or logical standpoint can the lack of funding for services like Waves be justified, especially considering the increased burden that is about to be placed on CAMHS because of it.

The role Waves played in the community was a vital one; while we may never know what goes on behind closed doors, support for young people’s wellbeing is an undeniable force for good.

I’ve been through CAMHS - the knowledge of being actually listened to and understood was invaluable; without it I’d still be in a state of perpetual misery and indecision.

Services like Waves allowed the already overstretched CAMHS to breathe a little; so cutting said services is a hearty kick to the lungs to a vital mental health network.

Said kick will ripple the very fabric of society as young people will have even fewer places to turn to for help and the demand for CAMHS bottlenecks further.

The decision to cut the funding will not only hurt people’s wellbeing in the short term, but will have a longstanding effect on people’s lives in ways that only those affected will truly understand.

Nobody should have to suffer from this kind of shake up and only time will tell the long-term effect of the need to transition between services, rebuild rapport and start anew.

Certain people in charge whom I shall not name should be doing something, or trying their best to prevent a repeat of this.

By Oliver Streather-Paul