2010 Voice Awards: Entertainment Industry Casts Mental Health in Positive Light
October 16th, 2010
This week, the 2010 Voice Awards recognized film and television writers and producers who have incorporated “dignified, respective and accurate portrayals of people with mental illnesses” into their work, including emphasis on recovery. The awards, which began in 2005, are sponsored by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This year’s recipients include, among many others, ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” for addressing post-traumatic stress disorder, NBC’s “Parenthood” for addressing Asperger’s Syndrome, and the film “Precious” for addressing depression. You can find a full list of 2010 Voice Award Recipients here. SAMHSA also recognized former First Lady Rosalynn Carter for her 40-year campaign to improve the mental health system and promote mental health awareness.
© Copyright 2010 by www.GoodTherapy.org Charlotte Bureau - All Rights Reserved. 
-
Find the Right Therapist
-
7 Comments | Click here to leave a comment.
Comments
It is good to read about such recognition. There is a great stigma attached to the words ‘mental health’ and it can become such a disabling label in and of itself. At some time or other we could all easily encounter problems with our mental health – either directly or via the family etc. A fairer and less judgemental approach will ultimately help us all.
Precious was such a good movie because not only was the portrayal so realistic but it also addressed the ramifications for generations of how this can be a never ending cycle of depression along with abuse. Kudos to Hollywood for finally giving those a voice who might otherwise go unseen.
But these are areas that must be hit upon and stressed over and over again. Just because this was a good year does not mena that those biases are gone, they just maybe were for a while. That is why the energy cannot ebb and the fight cannot stop. We have to keep going and stressing that mental illness is not one that has to be shunned and that the more light we shine upon it tnen maybe the more we can all understand a little better the lives that many face and the things that we can all do to make it better even if just for a bit.
its amazing how much of an effect media and films can have on the general public and those film-makers and the like who do a good job in spreading the right message certainly deserve recognition.
It is so difficult to find ways to creatively and effectively fight the prejudices against the mentally ill that are so rampant in today’s world. I would like to think that most of us are smart enough to not need ficttional portrayals to raise our awareness, but I guess we have to take help in whatever form we can get it. At least it is n longer taboo to even talk about, so there is a growing awareness and acceptance of this as a reality of our lives. But I still see a huge struggle ahead in preventing the demeaning of this community and the growth of much needed services that could very much benefit the mentally ill and their caregivers.
great! for too long we have had movies that portray these things in a bad light and even have a lot of parodies on these disorders.this should be a light in the darkness…!
Media can play a big role in making people understand about the different problems that some people in our society face and will bring in empathy towards such people.
Leave a Reply
By commenting you acknowledge acceptance of GoodTherapy.org's Terms and Conditions of Use.