They spoke to The Associated Press in the months leading up to Rosalynn Carter's death Sunday at age 96. “I do not think there has ever been another sort of leader in the mental health field who has had as much of an impact on mental health care and access to care and how we think about mental health and mental illness as Mrs. Carter,” Cade said. Then, as president, he created a national commission on mental health, which led to the passage of the Mental Health Systems Act of 1980, a major revamping of federal policy that sought to treat people with mental illness in their communities. Those who worked with her over the decades say Carter’s accomplishments were rooted in her compassion and listening skills. What else could we be doing?”____Associated Press reporter Holly Ramer received a 2017-18 Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism.

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Persons: Rosalynn Carter, ”, “ feebleminded, Hugh Gallen, Dayton Duncan, “, ” Duncan, Jimmy, Kathy Cade, Rosalynn, Carter, ” Cade, ” Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy Carter, Reagan, Cynthia Wainscott, you’re, Wainscott, Bill Lichtenstein, ” Lichtenstein, Lichtenstein, Marion Scher, ” Scher, Cade, Holly Ramer Organizations: CONCORD, U.S . Justice Department, Gov, Laconia State School, White, Carter, Associated Press, Mental Health Systems, Carter Center, Mental Health America, National Mental Health Association of Georgia, ABC News, The Carter Center, Mental Health Journalism Locations: N.H, Laconia , New Hampshire, Laconia, Atlanta, Georgia, Boston, U.S, South Africa