Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

What Makes a Good Voice Awards Nomination?

The spirit of the Voice Awards is first and foremost to be accurate and respectful. While people with mental health and/or substance use disorders face a variety of challenges, they also have a range of talents that make our communities stronger. The Voice Awards celebrates this by honoring those who use their extremely visible, influential and powerful platform—TV and film—to make sure this reality reaches the public.

For serious consideration by the Voice Awards judges, productions nominated in the entertainment category should portray:

• Experiences that convey people with mental health and/or substance use disorders’ struggles with housing, employment, and overall community acceptance;
• True representations of symptoms and disorders;
• The potential for and journey of recovery; and
• A sense of hope and optimism.

If you’re still not sure whether a production you’re considering nominating will pass the test, ask yourself if they embody an aspect, or aspects, of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) tagline:

Behavioral Health is Essential to Health. Prevention Works. People Recover. Treatment is Effective.