Provocative Campaign on Childhood Mental Illness
Monday, December 17, 2007
Nancy L. Brown, PhD
Well, I never thought I would say this, but I wish I lived in New York this month. Apparently the Child Study Center is running some amazing ads about autism, depression, ADHD, bulimia, OCD, and Asperger's syndrome that are really catching the attention of people. The goal of the campaign featuring "ransom notes" is to raise awareness about the epidemic of childhood mental illness and the 12 million children suffering with disorders.The campaign suggesting that a disease has kidnapped a child is perceived as negative by some people who fear the ads will reinforce stereotypes versus increase awareness. Advocates suggest that the ads have to be intense to make people listen - these are real diseases and denial is not going to help. The campaign is being produced pro bono by BBDO, an Omnicon agency, and the public service announcements are running in New York Magazine and Newsweek as well as on kiosks, billboards and construction sites around New York.
We will see if the ad campaign continues or gets shut down by patient advocacy groups, but I say bring it to California!
Photo credit: phillip broadway
Labels: Media, Mental Health
8 Comments:
At Mon Dec 17, 02:40:00 PM 2007,
Kent Adams, Ex. Director of The National Autistic Society of America said…
"Advocates suggest that the ads have to be intense to make people listen"
You should clarify that its non-autistic "advocates" who believe the ads need to be intense. Not autistic people like me. Autistic people's opinions should be the only ones that matter in this circumstance. But we are relegated to non-personhood in this debate, even though we started the debate, had countless MD's and professionals including the prior President of the American Psychology Association sign the petition against the ads. While your form of advocacy is stigmatizing us and making it harder for our inclusion in society, you ignore our opinions.
Please in the future, clarify that the so called "advocates" are non-autistic people and then in fairness, report our side of the issue. Life is hell enough for us as it is because of misguided "awareness".
At Mon Dec 17, 02:42:00 PM 2007,
Anonymous said…
"Advocates suggest that the ads have to be intense to make people listen"
You should clarify that its non-autistic "advocates" who believe the ads need to be intense. Not autistic people like me. Autistic people's opinions should be the only ones that matter in this circumstance. But we are relegated to non-personhood in this debate, even though we started the debate, had countless MD's and professionals including the prior President of the American Psychology Association sign the petition against the ads. While your form of advocacy is stigmatizing us and making it harder for our inclusion in society, you ignore our opinions.
Please in the future, clarify that the so called "advocates" are non-autistic people and then in fairness, report our side of the issue. Life is hell enough for us as it is because of misguided "awareness".
Kent Adams
Executive Director
The National Autistic Society of America
At Mon Dec 17, 03:21:00 PM 2007,
Anonymous said…
I should also say that the term "patient advocacy groups" is a hideous type of hubris meant to neutralize the opinions of people with disabilities.
Kent Adams
Executive Director
The National Autistic Society of America
At Mon Dec 17, 03:40:00 PM 2007,
Liz Ditz said…
Dr. Brown, with all due respect, I find the ads insulting, hurtful, and counter-productive. My views are here.
At Tue Dec 18, 07:40:00 AM 2007,
Kate said…
My son is a former patient of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. When I had concerns about his development, the doctor scoffed and basically told me I was wrapped too tight. It's a pretty sad commentary that PAMF's doctors need "intense" billboards to make a diagnosis. And it is beyond astounding that you think these are a good idea. Please go review your Principles of Medical Ethics and tell me how this revolting campaign doesn't violate it.
Mom of an Asperger teenager
At Tue Dec 18, 10:15:00 AM 2007,
Nancy L. Brown, PhD said…
I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to respond to this post. The perspective that each person offers really helps "others" understand the issues involved in the debate.
My perspective as a developmental psychologist is that the 12 million kids living with mental illness need more parents and professionals who can help them get accurately diagnosed and treated.
Awareness, advocacy and ethics are really positive word to me, but it is obvious that the context of our lives creates our perspective.
I am happy to live in a society where free speech is a right and where all perspectives are heard. Thanks again for taking the time to help others understand your perspective.
At Wed Dec 19, 02:32:00 PM 2007,
Liz Ditz said…
Update via Autism Vox, 12/19/07: New York University's Child Study Center has cancelled the campaign.
Though we meant well, we've come to realize that we unintentionally hurt and offended some people. We’ve read all the emails, both pro and con, listened to phone calls, and have spoken with many parents who are working day and night to get their children the help they need. We have decided to conclude this phase of our campaign today because the debate over the ads is taking away from the pressing day-to-day work we need to do to help children and their families. They are and remain our first concern.
Our goal was to start a national dialogue. Now that we have the public’s attention, we need your help. We would like to move forward and harness the energy that this campaign has generated to work together so that we do not lose one more day in the lives of these children. We hope you will partner with us to bring the issues surrounding child and adolescent mental health to the top of America's agenda. Work with us as we fight to give children and their families equal access to health insurance, remove the stigma that the term "psychiatric disorder" so clearly still elicits, and, most importantly, support the drive to make research and science-based treatment a national priority.
We invite all of you to continue this conversation online at a “town hall” meeting that we will hold early next year as we plan the next phase of our national public awareness campaign on child mental health. Look for details on our web site www.AboutOurKids.org.
I agree that untreated mental illness is a big problem in this country, but the campaign was heavy-handed and offensive.
At Thu Dec 20, 01:43:00 PM 2007,
Nancy L. Brown, PhD said…
That is a nice conclusion to the debate and I hope the Town Hall is productive and can bring together all of the caring people involved!
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