“I love San Francisco. I have a lot of memories there.” — Rosalynn Carter

When I announced my focus on mental health as first lady of Georgia in 1971, none but five mental health advocates in the state wanted to be involved with the issue.

We know how to treat depression, we know how to treat mental illness, and we have not had the political will in our country to make it happen.

When I was first lady, I worked to call attention to the plight of refugees fleeing Cambodia for Thailand, I visited Thailand and witnessed firsthand the trauma of parents and children separated by circumstance beyond their control.

I was very nervous about giving speeches for a long time.