Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president, passed away in the afternoon on 29th December 2024, Sunday in Plains, Georgia. He was the longest-surviving American president. The current U.S. president, Joe Biden, directed that 9th January will be considered as the national day of mourning. Moreover, Biden also released a statement encouraging the young minds of the nation to put forth Jimmy Carter as their idol and study his faith, humility, and principles to live a purposeful and meaningful life.
A state funeral has been ordered for the former president in Washington, D.C., the capital of the U.S. As per The Carter Center, following public commemorations in Atlanta and Washington, DC, a private burial will be taking place in Plains, Georgia. He had been experiencing several severe health issues regarding his brain and liver since February 2023 and was undergoing medical intervention in a hospice setting.
His spouse, Rosalynn Carter, passed away in November 2023. His family of 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren honours his memory with pride and believes that their father was a strong advocate of peace, human rights, and unselfish love. He made a significant contribution in bringing people together and working towards their betterment.
Read More: The Psychology of Mental Peace
Carter’s Contribution Towards Mental Health
Jimmy Carter established a presidential council on mental health shortly after taking charge in early 1977. His actions were of the implication that there were underlying issues with a disrupted and irrational mental health system that frequently failed to address the needs of different groups, particularly of people with severe and chronic mental illnesses. Moreover, it demonstrated the president’s awareness and care towards the public.
Mrs. Carter was a big influence in this mental health reform and continued to work towards it after her husband was elected as president. President Carter’s commission shifted the ways of treating a patient or client as someone who is ‘insane’ to someone who needs care and planned interventions. It aimed to provide mental health care that was free of discrimination, inclusive, and available in rural areas.
As a result, the Mental Health Systems Act, S. 1177, awarded grants to mental health care authorities, CMHCs (Community Mental Health Centers), and other organizations that treat and educate people with mental illness. It was viewed as a milestone regarding mental health strategy as it recognized and supported initiatives that enhanced mental health services.
Carters’ pioneering work led to significant changes in the national conversation around mental health and substance use disorders have been made possible and the enduring impact of their advocacy. Jimmy Carter will always be one of the most influential people who advocated for human rights transformed the field of mental health and provided help to the needy when the mental health system was falling short.
