Actors, films and TV shows win Prism Awards honoring depictions of substance use and mental health issues

How do you like your portrayals of people with addictions and mental health problems? Pretty realistic? Then keep reading, because some of your favorite films, shows and actors may have just won a 2011 Prism Award honoring the entertainment industry’s truthful depictions of substance use and mental health issues in film, television and music.

“Black Swan” got the top award in the feature film/mental health category, while “The Fighter” won in the feature film/substance use category. The television show “Mad Men” won in the drama series episode/substance use category, and “Grey’s Anatomy” was singled out for drama series episode/mental health. The shows “Nurse Jackie” and “Rescue Me” won for drama series multi-episode storyline/ substance use, and “Parenthood” got the nod for drama series multi-episode storyline/mental health. “Drop Dead Diva” won for comedy series episode.

Actors noted for their performances included Peter Krause, Monica Potter and Max Burkholder for the show “Parenthood,” KaDee Strickland for “Private Practice,” Tony Denison for “The Closer,” Aaron Paul for “Breaking Bad,” “Toni Collette for “United States of Tara,” Claire Danes for “Temple Grandin” and Halle Berry for the film “Frankie & Alice.”

The first Prism LUNGevity Award in recognition of the authentic portrayal of lung cancer went to the CBS daytime television series “The Bold and the Beautiful.” The award is part of a partnership with the LUNGevity Foundation and was created to encourage true depictions in movies and TV of lung cancer, including diagnosis of the disease, plus its symptoms, effects and treatments.

The Prism Awards were held at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Thursday evening.