SAMHSA's 2018 Voice Awards

The American Psychiatric Association Foundation is proud to be a partner of SAMHSA's Voice Awards each year, and 2018's event on August 8 at UCLA’s Royce Hall was a celebration of achievements in mental health awareness and representation. 

The Voice Awards program honors people in recovery and their family members who are improving the lives of people with mental illnesses, substance use disorders, or both in communities across the country. These consumer, peer, and family leaders play a vital role in raising awareness and understanding of behavioral health issues. They are sharing their stories of resilience to demonstrate that recovery is real and possible through treatment and recovery supports.

The awards program also recognizes television and film productions that educate the public about behavioral health and showcase that recovery is real and possible through treatment and recovery supports. The writers and producers of these productions give a voice to people with mental illnesses, substance use disorders, or both by incorporating dignified, respectful, and accurate portrayals of these individuals into their scripts, programs, and productions. Through their work, audiences can experience the stories of people with behavioral health issues and embrace the hope and promise of recovery.

Together, these two groups of leaders demonstrate that people with mental illnesses, substance use disorders, or both can and do recover, lead meaningful lives, and contribute to their communities.