SAMHSA Honors The Soloist, 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'United States Of Tara,' and Mental Health Consumer Leaders at The Star-Studded 2009 Voice Award (source)
"Grey's Anatomy" (ABC) for the episode "Sweet Surrender" addressing post-traumatic stress disorder
LOS ANGLES, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Writers and producers from The
Soloist, "Grey's Anatomy," "United States of Tara," "90210," and others were
honored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) for increasing awareness of mental health issues and the power of
recovery at the 2009 Voice Awards last night. The event was hosted by Academy
Award-winning actor and mental health consumer Richard Dreyfuss at Paramount
Studios in Los Angeles.
"Grey's Anatomy" (ABC) for the episode "Sweet Surrender" addressing post-traumatic stress disorder
LOS ANGLES, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Writers and producers from The
Soloist, "Grey's Anatomy," "United States of Tara," "90210," and others were
honored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) for increasing awareness of mental health issues and the power of
recovery at the 2009 Voice Awards last night. The event was hosted by Academy
Award-winning actor and mental health consumer Richard Dreyfuss at Paramount
Studios in Los Angeles.
"Writers, producers and mental health consumer leaders have tremendous
influence over public perceptions about mental health issues," said Acting
SAMHSA Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. "On behalf of the
estimated 50 million Americans who live with mental health problems, the Voice
Awards honors these individuals to encourage more mental health storylines and
advocacy, building the supportive communities that are vital to mental health
recovery."
The Voice Awards recognizes writers and producers who have given a voice to
people with mental health problems by incorporating dignified, respectful, and
accurate portrayals of these individuals into television and film productions.
Awards also were given to outstanding leaders in the mental health recovery
movement who are working to promote the social inclusion of people with mental
health issues and the real possibility of recovery. The 2009 Voice Awards
entertainment winners are:
Television Category
-- "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC) for the episode "Sweet Surrender" addressing
post-traumatic stress disorder;
-- "United States of Tara" (Showtime) for the episode "Inspiration"
addressing dissociative identity disorder;
-- "90210" (CW) for the episodes "Off the Rails" and "Okaeri, Donna!"
addressing bipolar disorder;
-- "Monk" (USA) for the episode "Mr. Monk's 100th Case" addressing
obsessive compulsive disorder;
-- "Law & Order: SVU" (NBC) for the episode "Trials" addressing
post-traumatic stress disorder;
-- "In Treatment" (HBO) for the episode "Gina" addressing depression; and
-- "Front of the Class," (Hallmark) a made-for-television movie
addressing
Tourette's Syndrome.
Film Category
-- The Soloist for addressing schizophrenia;
-- Lars and the Real Girl for addressing delusional disorder;
-- Michael Clayton for addressing bipolar disorder; and
-- Helen for addressing depression.
Documentary Category
-- Autism: The Musical for addressing autism;
-- In a Dream for addressing delusional disorder; and
-- MTV Network's "True Life: I Have Schizophrenia" for addressing
schizophrenia.
A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Mary Ellen Copeland of West
Dummerston, Vt., for her leadership and contributions to the mental health
recovery movement. Through her own personal experience with manic depression,
she has conducted research and written many books on mental health recovery,
including The Depression Workbook: A Guide for Living with Depression and
Manic Depression. In collaboration with others, she developed the popular
Wellness and Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) system, a simple self-help system for
identifying and utilizing personal resources to get well and stay well. She
has also created the Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery, a non-profit
organization that continues her work through trainings worldwide.
The Voice Awards bestowed Consumer Leadership Awards on five mental health
advocates and community leaders -- Eric Arauz, North Brunswick, N.J.; Marian
Bacon, Memphis, Tenn.; Mark Davis, Philadelphia, Pa.; John Kevin Hines, San
Francisco, Calif.; and Ann Kirkwood, Boise, Idaho. The Young Adult Leadership
Award was given to Tyrus "T.J." Curtis of Brooklyn, N.Y. These individuals
were honored for their work to promote community acceptance and support to
facilitate recovery for people with mental health issues.
Former U.S. Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon and Mrs. Sharon Smith -- whose
21-year-old son, Garrett, died by suicide -- received the SAMHSA Spotlight
Award for heightening awareness about suicide prevention.
In addition, SAMHSA honored five-time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close with a
Special Recognition Award for her work to educate the public about the effect
of stigma on those with mental illness and their families. Grey New York, an
advertising agency that developed a public service campaign in partnership
with the Ad Council aimed at decreasing negative attitudes about mental
illness and encouraging young adults to support friends who are living with
mental health issues, also received a SAMHSA Special Recognition Award for its
pro-bono work.
The GlassBook Project -- an innovative art project program of Witness Justice
and Rutgers University-Newark, Department of Arts, Culture and Media to
increase social inclusion of individuals with mental illness -- was showcased
at this year's event. As a result of the project, students have learned from
mental health consumers about the nature and impact of trauma and created 19
glass books to illustrate the consumers' experiences. Witness Justice is a
national nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support and
advocacy for victims of violence and trauma.
The Voice Awards are part of the Campaign for Mental Health Recovery, a
multi-year public service advertising program of SAMHSA and the Ad Council to
promote understanding and support for young adults and others with mental
illnesses.
The 2009 Voice Awards is supported by the following organizations: Ad Council;
Alliance Healthcare Foundation; American Counseling Association; American
Psychiatric Foundation; American Psychological Association; Mental Health
Media Partnership; National Association of Social Workers; National
Association of State Mental Health Program Directors; RTI International; and
Writers Guild of America, West.
SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability,
capacity, and effectiveness of the Nation's substance abuse prevention,
addictions treatment, and mental health service delivery systems.
SOURCE Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
comment or discuss in our fourm
influence over public perceptions about mental health issues," said Acting
SAMHSA Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. "On behalf of the
estimated 50 million Americans who live with mental health problems, the Voice
Awards honors these individuals to encourage more mental health storylines and
advocacy, building the supportive communities that are vital to mental health
recovery."
The Voice Awards recognizes writers and producers who have given a voice to
people with mental health problems by incorporating dignified, respectful, and
accurate portrayals of these individuals into television and film productions.
Awards also were given to outstanding leaders in the mental health recovery
movement who are working to promote the social inclusion of people with mental
health issues and the real possibility of recovery. The 2009 Voice Awards
entertainment winners are:
Television Category
-- "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC) for the episode "Sweet Surrender" addressing
post-traumatic stress disorder;
-- "United States of Tara" (Showtime) for the episode "Inspiration"
addressing dissociative identity disorder;
-- "90210" (CW) for the episodes "Off the Rails" and "Okaeri, Donna!"
addressing bipolar disorder;
-- "Monk" (USA) for the episode "Mr. Monk's 100th Case" addressing
obsessive compulsive disorder;
-- "Law & Order: SVU" (NBC) for the episode "Trials" addressing
post-traumatic stress disorder;
-- "In Treatment" (HBO) for the episode "Gina" addressing depression; and
-- "Front of the Class," (Hallmark) a made-for-television movie
addressing
Tourette's Syndrome.
Film Category
-- The Soloist for addressing schizophrenia;
-- Lars and the Real Girl for addressing delusional disorder;
-- Michael Clayton for addressing bipolar disorder; and
-- Helen for addressing depression.
Documentary Category
-- Autism: The Musical for addressing autism;
-- In a Dream for addressing delusional disorder; and
-- MTV Network's "True Life: I Have Schizophrenia" for addressing
schizophrenia.
A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Mary Ellen Copeland of West
Dummerston, Vt., for her leadership and contributions to the mental health
recovery movement. Through her own personal experience with manic depression,
she has conducted research and written many books on mental health recovery,
including The Depression Workbook: A Guide for Living with Depression and
Manic Depression. In collaboration with others, she developed the popular
Wellness and Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) system, a simple self-help system for
identifying and utilizing personal resources to get well and stay well. She
has also created the Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery, a non-profit
organization that continues her work through trainings worldwide.
The Voice Awards bestowed Consumer Leadership Awards on five mental health
advocates and community leaders -- Eric Arauz, North Brunswick, N.J.; Marian
Bacon, Memphis, Tenn.; Mark Davis, Philadelphia, Pa.; John Kevin Hines, San
Francisco, Calif.; and Ann Kirkwood, Boise, Idaho. The Young Adult Leadership
Award was given to Tyrus "T.J." Curtis of Brooklyn, N.Y. These individuals
were honored for their work to promote community acceptance and support to
facilitate recovery for people with mental health issues.
Former U.S. Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon and Mrs. Sharon Smith -- whose
21-year-old son, Garrett, died by suicide -- received the SAMHSA Spotlight
Award for heightening awareness about suicide prevention.
In addition, SAMHSA honored five-time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close with a
Special Recognition Award for her work to educate the public about the effect
of stigma on those with mental illness and their families. Grey New York, an
advertising agency that developed a public service campaign in partnership
with the Ad Council aimed at decreasing negative attitudes about mental
illness and encouraging young adults to support friends who are living with
mental health issues, also received a SAMHSA Special Recognition Award for its
pro-bono work.
The GlassBook Project -- an innovative art project program of Witness Justice
and Rutgers University-Newark, Department of Arts, Culture and Media to
increase social inclusion of individuals with mental illness -- was showcased
at this year's event. As a result of the project, students have learned from
mental health consumers about the nature and impact of trauma and created 19
glass books to illustrate the consumers' experiences. Witness Justice is a
national nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support and
advocacy for victims of violence and trauma.
The Voice Awards are part of the Campaign for Mental Health Recovery, a
multi-year public service advertising program of SAMHSA and the Ad Council to
promote understanding and support for young adults and others with mental
illnesses.
The 2009 Voice Awards is supported by the following organizations: Ad Council;
Alliance Healthcare Foundation; American Counseling Association; American
Psychiatric Foundation; American Psychological Association; Mental Health
Media Partnership; National Association of Social Workers; National
Association of State Mental Health Program Directors; RTI International; and
Writers Guild of America, West.
SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability,
capacity, and effectiveness of the Nation's substance abuse prevention,
addictions treatment, and mental health service delivery systems.
SOURCE Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
comment or discuss in our fourm
