Nominations for the 2009 Voice Awards are now open, my friends!

The Voice Awards, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services, are meant to honor two groups of people:

1. The “writers and producers of entertainment programming—television and film—who have given voice to people with mental health problems by incorporating dignified, respectful, and accurate portrayals of people with mental illnesses into their scripts, programs, and productions.”
2. The “mental health consumer leaders and advocates who have been instrumental in both raising awareness and understanding of mental health issues and promoting the social inclusion of people with mental health problems.”

This year, a SAMHSA Spotlight Voice Award will also be given to an individual who has educated the public about suicide and suicide prevention.

Past Voice Award winners for television have included writers and producers from Friday Night Lights (I love you Coach Taylor), House, Monk, Sopranos, Scrubs, ER, and Law & Order: SVU. For movies? Canvas, The Aviator, and Stateside. I Have Autism and I Have Tourette’s Syndrome, from MTV’s True Life series, both won in 2008’s documentary category.

I think the Voice Awards are fantastic, but I do have one beef with them. According to the site:

The highest ratings are reserved for those productions that emphasize the positive journey of recovery from mental health problems.

A “positive journey of recovery” is what we all aim for, and clearly it’s what we want people to see when they tune in to a movie or show that features someone with mental illness. Showing the audience that a “positive journey of recovery” is so very possible will not only help break down the barrier of stigma, but it may also help others realize the importance - and benefits - of getting help. It may help them see just how possible it is to live a healthy, fulfilling life once they learn to manage their mental health. This is a good thing.

However, a “positive journey of recovery” just isn’t always the case, and I think it’s a bit starry-eyed to reserve the highest nominations only for productions that leave audiences with the warm fuzzies. Not all stories of mental illness end on a happy note, and I believe these stories are just a crucial to showing folks the importance of mental health awareness, advocacy, and anti-stigma as the more “positive” ones. I don’t think SAMHSA is necessarily trying to shelter the audiences, but…

What do you all think? Is there a film or television writer or producer you’d like to nominate for the 2009 Voice Awards? What about a mental health consumer? Visit the official site to make your nominations heard.

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