Rosalynn Carter, the former First Lady of the United States, has devoted her life to advocating for mental health and building a more compassionate society. As the working partner of her husband, Jimmy Carter, she broke new ground as First Lady by promoting programs and services for people with mental illnesses, senior citizens, women and disenfranchised groups.
Her leadership extended beyond the White House through The Carter Center in Atlanta, where she continues to make a difference in people’s lives. As emissaries for the Center, Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter traveled the world on non-political campaigns to eradicate Guinea worm disease and other neglected tropical diseases, increase agricultural production in Africa, monitor elections in nascent democracies and promote human rights standards. Their efforts had a profound impact on communities around the world.
Rosalynn Carter also established The Carter Center’s Mental Health Program to combat stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses and promote improved mental health care in the US and abroad. She chaired the Center’s Mental Health Task Force, hosted an annual forum of national mental health leaders and established the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism to encourage accurate reporting about mental health issues.
Through her tireless work, Rosalynn Carter has touched the lives of people worldwide, forever changing how mental health is viewed and treated. Her lifetime of service has left an indelible impact on countless individuals and communities.