Eleanor Rosalynn Smith Carter, First Lady of the United States from 1976-1980, significantly raised public awareness of mental health issues by serving as honorary chair of the Presidential Commission on Mental Health. The work of the Commission led to the passage of the Mental Health System Act of 1980.

Her founding and continued work on the “Every Child by Two” initiative has saved thousands of children’s lives through immunization and spearheaded further public health immunization initiatives worldwide.

Mrs. Carter has demonstrated a life-long dedication to the concerns of women and children, the poor and the mentally ill: contributing her active presence
and policy expertise to the Policy Advisory Board of the Atlanta Project, the Last Acts coalition to improve end-of-life care, Habitat for Humanity, Project Interconnections that
provides housing for the homeless and mentally ill, and the Friendship Force.

Her books have aided thousands of people seeking assistance and guidance regarding mental health issues, care-giving and creating new paths in life. She is the recipient of numerous honors including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
 

Additional Resources:
Maddox, linda and edna Langford. Rosalynn: Friend and First Lady. Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1980.

Norton, Howard. Rosalynn: a portrait. Plainfield, New Jersey: Logos International, 1977.

Simmas, Dawn Langley. Rosalynn Carter; her life story. New York: F. Fell Publishers, 1979.

With Jimmy carter, her husband: Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of your Life. New York: Random House, 1987.

First Lady from Plains. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1984. [autobiography]

Helping Yourself Help Others: the caregiver's handbook. New York: Times Books, 1994.

Papers, mostly from 1977-1981, the time of her husband's presidency. National Archives and records Administration. Kimmy Carter Library. Atlantic, Georgia.