Vocational Leadership and Agents of Change: Rosalynn Carter

What is Vocational Calling? Not necessarily: An occupation Something one discovers by vision or epiphany Something that benefits you monetarily Is: Persistent and present Involving passion Fulfilling, even if challenging Something that utilizes one’s assets, skills, and passions to fill a void in some place of the world or society

Mental Illness in America: A Brief History Categories under ‘mental illness’ branch very extensive Mental illness seen as religious punishment/demonic possession; Looked down upon Primitive/debilitating treatments 1840’s; Dorothea Dix 1950’s Mid 1960’s

Stigma of Mental Illness: 1960’s-Today Drastically improved since then, but the stigma remains. What people think of when they think ‘mentally ill’ Mental illness in popular culture Reforms to change stigma

Rosalynn Carter First Lady: 1977-1981, wife of President Jimmy Carter Among the first to address this issue Member of Governor’s Commission to Improve Services to the Mentally and Emotionally Handicapped (when Pres. was Gov. of Georgia) Active Honorary Chair of the President’s Commission on Mental Health Helped bring about passage of the Mental Health Systems Act of 1980 Today: Leadership through The Carter Center (Atlanta) Home for the mentally ill; Promote peace and health Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy (1985) Brings together mental health representatives across the country Discuss key issues, such as stigma

Cont. Instituted Georgia Mental Health Forum (1996) Inspired by seeing a need for local collaboration Chairs the Carter Center Mental Health Task Force Composed of individuals in position to impact public policy; Work year round and meet quarterly Launched Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism (1996) One of most successful programs in combating the stigma associated with mental illness Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving Addresses the needs and concerns of those caring for the mentally ill Has continued to publish and co-author books to further the fight of mental illness and its continued stigma