Rosalynn Carter on how stigma perpetuates discrimination and inequity
In this edition: Rosalynn Carter's views on stigma surrounding mental illness; tips on flourishing during the holiday season; new studies on Black mental health in America; and more.
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter was one of the most influential U.S. leaders to focus her political energies on improving mental health care treatment for Americans. She died on Nov. 19, 2023, earning accolades for her life's work championing the dignity and rights of people who have often been neglected and abused. Among her most significant achievements was the act of creating the political and public space for people to speak openly about their struggles with mental illness.
Carter's book, "Within Our Reach: Ending the Mental Health Care Crisis," published in 2010 and co-written with Susan K. Golant and Kathryn E. Cade, offers a compelling blueprint for tackling not only how we talk about mental illness but also how to change the system to increase access to care. More than a decade later, its ideas remain relevant today. The book is not…