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The VOICE AWARDS
Department of Health and Human Services
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2006 AWARD WINNERS

Television Shows
Feature Films
Documentaries
Radio
Lifetime Achievement
Consumer Leadership
SAMHSA Special Recognition
Career Achievement

TELEVISION SHOWS

Law & Order: SVU
(Season 7, Episode 4: Ripped)
In the course of an investigation, Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) tries to help a murder suspect—the son of his former police partner—but is removed from the investigation because of his rage. Stabler seeks help from Dr. Hendrix, a psychiatrist (Mary Stuart-Masterson), to deal with the anger issues that have compromised his objectivity and judgment. This episode of the NBC crime drama highlights the role an engaging therapist can play in the life of a person seeking help for personal problems.

Writer: Jonathan Greene
Producers: Neal Baer, Gail Barringer, Tara Butters, David De Clerque, Dawn DeNoon, Michele Fazekas, Arthur W. Forney, Amanda Green, Jonathan Greene, Patrick Harbinson, Peter Jankowski, Sheyna Kathleen Smith, Ted Kotcheff, Peter Leto, Jose Molina, Robert Nathan, Lisa Marie Petersen, Randy Roberts, Dick Wolf

Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye
(Season 3, Episode 17: Mind Games)
Sue Thomas, an FBI agent (Deanne Bray), and her team of investigators face their prejudices about mental illness in this episode of the PAX Network crime drama. A woman with schizophrenia who claims she’s witnessed a murder is the catalyst for examining issues of violence and mental illness. The investigators’ prejudices contribute to arresting the woman for murder, though eventually she is cleared of all charges. A psychiatrist helps educate the investigators whose assumptions are ultimately changed.

Writers: Nickolas Barris, Kim Beyer-Johnson
Producers: Dave Alan Johnson, Brooks McGrath, Larry McLean, Marilyn Stonehouse

FEATURE FILMS

Proof
In this feature film, Catherine (Gwyneth Paltrow) is the devoted daughter of Robert (Sir Anthony Hopkins), a brilliant mathematician whose life and work have been impacted by mental illness. Upon her father’s death Catherine comes face-to-face with her long-held fears about her own possible predisposition toward mental illness. Additionally, a mathematical proof discovered after Robert’s death (one that was written at the height of his illness), and the question of who actually wrote the proof, bring up issues of sanity, intelligence, credibility, and trust. The movie is based on David Auburn’s Tony and Pulitzer prize-winning stage drama of the same name.

Writers: David Auburn, Rebecca Miller
Producers: Mark Cooper, Julie Goldstein, John N. Hart Jr., Michael Hogan, Robert Kessel, Alison Owen, Jeffrey Sharp, James D. Stern, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein

Jellysmoke
Jacob (Michael Ealy), a young man with bipolar disorder adjusting to life after release from a psychiatric hospital, becomes romantically involved with a woman and tries to keep his disorder a secret despite the resurgence of his mania. Most of the feature film shows him grappling with his growing symptoms (and the subsequent impact on his relationship), resulting in his readmission to the hospital. As the movie ends, he is living in supported housing and re-establishing contact with the woman he loves.

Writer: Mark Banning
Producers: Mark Banning, Cliff Charles, Nicole Gilliam, Mad Matthewz

DOCUMENTARIES

Legacy of the Harp
This six-part documentary profiles people with mental illness who have also experienced drug addiction, homelessness, and incarceration, but who reclaimed their own lives and are now helping others recover.

Producers: Meg Macdonald Higgins, Ken Wentworth, Liz Witham

I Have Tourette’s, But Tourette’s Doesn’t Have Me
This documentary highlights children with Tourette’s Disorder. The interviews with the kids themselves give the viewers an inside look at what it’s like to have Tourette’s, show how they cope with their illness and their peers, and relate their optimism in the face of their illness.

Producers: Beth Aala, Ellen Goosenberg Kent, Dolores Morris, Sheila Nevins

Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental Illness
This hour-long documentary deals with the stigma associated with mental illness, recovery, and hope. The film offers an inside look at what it is like to live with a mental illness. It includes interviews with consumers, experts, and advocates.

Writer: Melodie M. Davis
Producers: Burton Buller, Shirley M. Struchen

RADIO

One in Five (Crazy for Life)
“One In Five,” airs on Radio New Zealand and is a weekly magazine that examines issues of disability. In this segment Victoria Maxwell, a Canadian actress, shares her story of mental illness and discusses her one-woman stage show about living with bipolar disorder, “Crazy For Life.” The segment also examines various healing modalities. The phrase “Crazy For Life” is a play on words that refers to Maxwell’s zest and passion for life.

Producer: Kylee Maloney

National Public Radio: Morning Edition (Katrina and Recovery)
A series of four radio segments about mental illness in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:

Producer: Alix Spiegel

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Carmen Lee
Carmen Lee is the founder and executive director of Stamp Out Stigma (SOS), a non-profit organization formed in 1990. Lee, a mental health consumer herself, has personal experience with mental illness and stigma, and has overcome the challenges associated with her illness. In turn, she created SOS, a successful and innovative community advocacy and educational outreach program designed to change the public’s perceptions of those with the mental illness while informing them about the many challenges faced by persons living the disorder. Over the last 16 years of Lee’s unwavering leadership, SOS has delivered more than 1,000 presentations reaching 50,000 people. Audiences have been educated, moved, and inspired by panelists’ personal accounts of living with mental illness.

CONSUMER LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Doug DeVoe
Doug DeVoe is a mental health consumer, a former director of a consumer operated service in Ohio, and a former member of the Board of Ohio Advocates for Mental Health (OAMH). Currently the CEO of OAMH, Doug has spent the past 16 years listening to personal stories of Ohio residents and working to change the mental health system to ensure the needs of consumers are not only heard, but are incorporated into the program planning process. Doug has traveled the state for years, meeting consumers; building relationships; educating individuals, provider agencies, mental health board executives and State legislators; and sharing his own experiences with treatment. Doug and the board of OAMH hold an annual statewide conference for consumers and others interested in changing the status quo, improving the system, and providing the services consumers need to increase the quality of their lives. Over the years, attendance has increased from 70 to more than 500 with Doug’s leadership. Doug has developed coalitions within the disability community to create effective advocacy techniques and increase the number of advocates working to improve lives in Ohio.

Nancy Jensen & Lynn Kohr
Lynn Kohr and Nancy Jensen are former residents of the Kaufman House, a group home in Newton, Kansas. They helped pass a bill in the Kansas State legislature that ensures others will not suffer the abuse and serious mistreatment that residents of these group homes endured in the last two decades, including forced slavery, and sexual and financial exploitation. Both women worked with Disability Rights Center personnel to help substantiate the case against the owners of the facility and Nancy spoke bravely at the sentencing following the trial. It was difficult for both women to relive and recount their experiences, but, as Lynn says, they were compelled to do so because most of the other residents were too ill and too damaged by their experiences to speak out. Both women have shown that recovery is possible. Lynn and Nancy are both members of NAMI Wichita, where Lynn is active as the affiliate program coordinator.

Sandra McQueen-Baker
Sandra McQueen-Baker has been a consumer advocate since 1996, when she became employed as a peer counselor at Lock Towns Community Mental Health Center in Miami, Florida. She was instrumental in determining the need for and developing an independent consumer-driven drop-in center in the northern portion of Miami-Dade County, which comprises a population of predominately African Americans and Caribbean Islanders. She is currently the executive director of the organization she helped establish, Fresh Start Drop-In Center, Inc. In addition, Sandra is involved in a variety of community organizations and initiatives to raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. This includes serving as the chairperson of the Bay View FACT Advisory Committee; co-chairperson of the Department of Children and Families; Adult Mental Health Planning Subcommittee; board member of NAMI of Miami; and consumer representative for the Eleventh Judicial Criminal Mental Health Project Jail Diversion Program. In the latter role, Sandra is actively involved in training police officers in how to respond to individuals that have mental health problems.

Gayathri Ramprasad
Gayaththri Ramprasad is a mental health advocate who has shared her personal story and insights with hundreds of people through her work with dozens of local, national, and international organizations. She has also served on the NAMI Oregon board of directors, bringing a consumer’s voice to the organization. She was the main force in organizing the first local NAMI walk to help raise community awareness of mental illness, reduce stigma, and raise funds towards future advocacy. She has started a website, www.mindbeautiful.com, to spread her message of hope and recovery. She recently won the 2006 Eli Lilly Welcome Back Award for Lifetime Achievement. She is a certified professional speaker, and the associate producer of a new documentary called “Brain Storm: Mental Illness in America.” The documentary focuses on raising awareness about the public health cost of mental illness, and the crippling impact of stigma. Her memoir “JYOTI: A Candle in the Dark, A Memoir of Hope & Healing,” is scheduled to be published in 2008. In 2006, she will begin the Rally for Recovery World Tour, which will be launched in India and will promote global mental health awareness, diminish stigma, and save lives.

SAMHSA SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

Patty Duke
Patty Duke is an Academy Award-winning actress, a best-selling author, and a lifelong advocate on the topic of mental illness. Her Oscar-winning portrayal of Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker” launched a prolific career on stage and screen. Ms. Duke’s talents and dedication to social issues have been recognized with three Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, six Emmy nominations, a People’s Choice Award, and many community service awards. She is the author of the best-selling autobiography, Call Me Anna. In 1987, the book rose to the top of the New York Times best-seller list and propelled Ms. Duke on a journey as mental health spokeswoman, something she continues to do. In 1992 she wrote her second book, A Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depressive Illness. Ms. Duke currently resides with her family in Northern Idaho.

Ruta Lee
Ruta Lee kicked off her stellar acting career at the age of 16 when MGM cast her as the youngest of the seven brides in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.” Since then, she has gone on to star in numerous films and musicals including “Funny Face,” “Witness for the Prosecution,” and “Sergeant’s Three.” Ruta has also enjoyed tremendous success on TV, with over 2000 appearances on shows like “Murder She Wrote,” “Roseanne,” “The Love Boat,” and the “The Bonnie Hunt Show.” She is currently filming the ABC movie “Everyday is Christmas.” One of Hollywood’s most glamorous ladies, Ruta is also one of its most multifaceted and top notch civic contributors. She spends a great deal of time and energy raising funds for The Thalians, which provides mental health services for pediatrics to geriatrics at The Thalians Community Mental Health Center at Cedars-Sinai. In fact, she has been either chairman or president of The Thalians for 35 years, exchanging roles with her good friend Debbie Reynolds. To recognize her many humanitarian and philanthropic efforts, Ruta has been awarded the prestigious Yellow Rose of Texas by President George W. Bush.

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

David Hoberman
David Hoberman is one of the leading producers in today’s entertainment industry, with over 100 movies on his distinguished resume. As founder and president of Mandeville Films, Hoberman has produced such hits as “Raising Helen,” “Shaggy Dog” and “Eight Below.” He is also the co-creator and executive producer of the hit TV series “Monk,” which follows former police detective Adrian Monk as he deals with his obsessive-compulsive disorder and uses his photographic memory and amazing instincts to help solve cases for the San Francisco Police Department. Even with his tremendous on screen success, Hoberman still finds the time to be a dedicated civic contributor. He has been on the Board of the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation for over 10 years, and recently joined the Board of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America.