Posted 11/24/2023, 10:00:45 AM
Rosalynn Carter, Longtime Mental Health Champion, Leaves Legacy of Advocacy and Awareness
- Championed mental health causes as First Lady in the 1970s and persisted even when faced with setbacks
- Helped pass the landmark Mental Health Systems Act of 1980, though it was later defunded
- Lobbied successfully in 2008 for the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
- Established a journalism fellowship in 1996 to train reporters to cover mental health accurately and compassionately
- Remained dedicated to the cause throughout her life, believing meaningful change was possible despite stigma