Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

About the Voice Awards

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Center for Mental Health Services, the Voice Awards honor consumer/peer leaders who have played a vital role in raising awareness and understanding of mental health and substance use disorders and promoted the social inclusion of people with behavioral health problems. Through their exemplary leadership and advocacy, these individuals demonstrate that recovery is real and that people with behavioral health problems are valuable, contributing members of their schools, workplaces, and communities.

The awards also recognize TV and film writers and producers who have given a voice to people with behavioral health problems by incorporating dignified, respectful, and accurate portrayals of these individuals into their scripts, programs, and productions. These dedicated, insightful, and influential professionals have helped change how TV and film viewers understand mental health and substance use disorders and accept people with behavioral health problems.

Judging and Criteria

Nominated consumer/peer leaders are evaluated based on their outstanding contributions in all of the following areas:

• Led efforts to promote the social inclusion of people with behavioral health problems;
• Personally demonstrated that recovery is real and possible; and
• Made a positive impact on their community, workplace, or school.

These nominees are reviewed by a panel of judges that includes consumer/peer leaders in recovery from mental health and/or substance use disorders and behavioral health advocates, as well as representatives from HHS and communication professionals.

TV and film production nominees are evaluated based on the criteria listed below:

• Relative importance of the people with behavioral health problems to the plot, subject matter, or storyline;
• Accurate representation of behavioral health information (conditions, symptoms);
• Dignified and respectful depictions of people with behavioral health problems;
• Portrayal of the concept of recovery from behavioral health problems;
• Emphasis on contributions made by people with behavioral health problems; and
• Representations that promote the social inclusion of people with behavioral health problems and reduce the misconceptions associated with people with behavioral health issues.

Nominated productions do not need to reflect every element to receive an award. However, the highest ratings are reserved for those productions that emphasize the positive journey of recovery from behavioral health problems.

These nominees are reviewed by a panel of judges that includes TV and film writers and producers, consumer/peer leaders in recovery from mental health and/or substance use disorders and behavioral health advocacy organizations, as well as representatives from HHS and other Voice Awards program partners.