Voice Awards Cap off Recovery Month

voiceawards2013The 2013 Voice Awards were held at Paramount Studios in Hollywood last week. Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the awards seek to honor community and entertainment leaders for giving a voice to behavioral health recovery.

This year director David O. Russell was presented with the career achievement award, who has been at the helm of many notable films including The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook.

Special recognition was also given to Patrick Kennedy, former U.S. Representative (Rhode Island), and author and lead sponsor of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

In the documentary film category, awards were given to Running From Crazy, Of Two Minds and Bill W. Feature film awards went to The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Being Flynn and Silver Linings Playbook.

Other categories included television productions and awards were also given to community activists for their efforts to raise awareness and support for recovery.

SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. said, “It is more important than ever to raise our voices — through TV, film and other media – to proclaim that behavioral health is essential to overall health, that prevention works, that treatment is effective and that people recover.”