SAMHSA honors Senator Elizabeth Dole for her work to support military caregivers on their path to overcome mental illness and addiction – for themselves or a loved one

Last Wednesday in Los Angeles, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) 2017 Voice Awards program recognized television and film writers and producers along with community leaders for outstanding efforts to raise awareness and understanding of mental illnesses and/or addictions. The 12th annual Voice Awards highlighted the theme Honoring Those Who Serve: Hope, Resilience, and Recovery, and spotlighted efforts that provide hope and support to past and present military service members and their families who have faced mental health and addiction challenges. A highlight of the evening, Senator Dole was awarded SAMHSA’s prestigious Special Recognition Award, recognizing her unrivaled service and commitment to our military caregivers, their well-being, their empowerment and their critical importance to the health and success of our wounded veterans and military service members.SAMHSA has been a key partner to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and our work to support our military caregivers -- Hidden Heroes -- who selflessly care for our wounded warriors. Far too often they deal with the harsh realities of mental illness, depression, substance abuse and isolation, themselves. Take a look at Senator Dole’s acceptance remarks from the event here.Senator Dole was among an elite group of community-based consumer, peer, and family leaders championed over the course of the evening. The Voice Awards also recognized writers and producers for their exemplary portrayals of military service members, their families, and the path to recovery. This year’s finalists included the feature films Captain Fantastic and Megan Leavey; documentaries Almost Sunrise,Iron Will, and The S Word; and television shows Chris Gethard: Career Suicide (HBO), Jane the Virgin (CW), One Day at a Time (Netflix), The Warfighters (History Channel), and This Is Us (NBC). Learn more at about the event here.