A public awareness campaign entitled “Ransom Notes” has been launched by the NYU Child Study Center. The campaign supports those children and adolescents who are suffering from mental illness such as autism, ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), eating disorders, and depression.
Founder and director of the NYU Child Study Center, Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz says, “Twelve million American children and adolescents face daily battles with psychiatric disorders, yet childhood mental illness remains stigmatized, under-diagnosed and under-treated.”

John Osborn, President and CEO of BBDO New York, says “Left untreated, these illnesses can hold children hostage. That’s why we’ve chosen to deliver our message in the form of a ransom note. We hope the campaign will act as a wake-up call to families, educators and healthcare professionals, and spark dialogue so children can get the help they need.”
The main advertisement for the Ransom Notes campaign says: 12 million kids are held hostage by a psychiatric disorder. Help a child at www.AboutOurKids.org
The other six ads each refer to a specific disorder: ADHD, OCD, Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism, Bulimia, and Depression. The ads are like ransom notes from the disorder shown with the tag line: “Don’t let a psychiatric disorder take your child.”
• We have your son. We will make sure he will no longer be able to care for himself or interact socially as long as he lives. This is only the beginning…Autism.
• We are in possession of your son. We are making him squirm and fidget until he is a detriment to himself and those around him. Ignore this and your kid will pay…ADHD
• We have your son. We are destroying his ability for social interaction and driving him into a life of complete isolation. It’s up to you now…Asperger’s Syndrome
• We have your daughter. We are forcing her to throw up after every meal she eats. It’s only going to get worse…Bulimia
• We have taken your son. We have imprisoned him in a maze of darkness with no hope of ever getting out. Do nothing and see what happens…Depression
• We have your daughter. We are making her wash her hands until they are raw, everyday. This is only the beginning…OCD
Dr. Koplewicz states that those adolescents with untreated mental disorders are very likely to drop out of school, fail in academic subjects, expose themselves to substance abuse, and be at risk for suicide. Among those teens from ages 15-24, suicide is the third cause of death. 1 out of 10 teenagers are affected by emotional issues while two-thirds of them do not receive the help needed to deal with these issues.
New York University Child Study Center is a premier organization in the nation for the treatment of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders. Its aim is to prevent, identify, and treat these disorders.