By Alec Stone, MA, MPA, NATSAP Executive Director

Americans have a soft spot for First Ladies of the United States (FLOTUS). Former FLOTUS Rosalynn Carter, who passed away November 19, 2023, consistently ranked among the top 10 in the Most Popular First Lady category long after leaving the White House in 1980.

She was beloved for many reasons, and that sentiment stems from her strong commitment to others and her consistent work raising awareness for important issues in healthcare. In particular, she championed mental            health and helped change the national dialog, removing many barriers and social stigmas around providing needed care.

On Jimmy Carter's 1970 gubernatorial campaign trail in Georgia, Rosalynn asked him, "What are you going            to do to help people with mental illnesses when you are governor?" Later, after he was elected president in 1977, Jimmy Carter created the President's Commission on Mental Health and named his wife Rosalynn the Honorary Chair.

She helped shift the language from mental "illness" to mental "health." Through her leadership, she changed public policy and improved both awareness to and access for services. Importantly, she sought parity for mental and physical health.

In 1978, she issued a formal report recommending improvements be made to the mental healthcare system, and for significant funds to be allocated to provide more supportive benefits for those in need. This was the beginning of the conversation. By her sheer force of will, Rosalynn Carter permanently added mental and behavioral health to the national discussion.

As First Lady and in subsequent years during her work at the Carter Center, Mrs. Carter's commitment to mental and behavioral health remained a priority. She wrote three books on the subject. In her last, published in 2010, she reflected on the evolution of mental health over the decades, and reiterated her goal — for people to understand help was available. She wrote that "to neglect those who, through no fault of their own are in need, runs counter to our values, our decency, and equality," adding that "we have a great opportunity to change things forever, for all people with mental illnesses, with what we know now, to move forward to a new era of understanding, care, and respect."

Between her own experiences in mental healthcare with a family member and her involvement on the national            stage, Rosalynn Carter worked tirelessly to improve the lives of millions of Americans year after year. Her grace, patience, and commitment never wavered, and because of her drive, mental health is now recognized as an integral part of overall health. For this, Americans are forever in her debt. We honor her by carrying that message forward. And that is exactly what the members of NATSAP continue to do. We remember Rosalynn Carter for her courageous yet quiet strength, and for changing how we think, feel, and talk about mental health.