Advocacy Spotlight
Rosalynn Carter (1927-2023)
We thank Rosalynn Carter, the selfless Steel Magnolia, for her accomplishments and lifelong advocacy support.
NAHAC honors the life and legacy of Rosalynn Carter and acknowledges her tireless efforts in advocacy for mental health. Rosalynn was nicknamed the "Steel Magnolia" during her tenure as first lady of the United States, a name attributed to her shy, feminine exterior but formidable and rock solid interior. Her inner strength has shown in all she has done.
She is well known for her advocacy work in mental health and "tireless work to destigmatize mental illness and encouraged open-ended conversations toward creating an environment that allowed many to seek help without fear. Her emphasis on the parity of mental and physical health allowed her to break the barriers to get access to care."
Less well known is Rosalynn's advocacy focus on family caregivers. The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers (RCI) was founded in 1987 by Mrs. Carter "to support the unique needs of caregivers those who selflessly cared for family and friends; and build on her belief that everyone is a caregiver now, has been a caregiver, or will either be or need a caregiver in the future. Over the last 36 years, RCI has grown to support all unpaid caregivers, which number more than 53 million people in the United States." https://www.cartercenter.org/health/mental_health/rosalynn-carter-mental-health-leadership.html
We are grateful to Rosalynn Carter, the selfless Steel Magnolia, for her accomplishments and lifelong advocacy support.
Rosalynn Carter, "Steel Magnolia" (1927-2023)