most serious mental health conditions can be treated, however, allowing people to better
contribute to their families and communities.

Our Strategy
The Mental Health Program uses the Center's convening power to bring together health leaders
and organizations to discuss important public policy issues facing mental health and substance
use care systems nationwide and at the state level. In addition, the Mental Health Program is part
of an international effort to reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with mental
health and substance use conditions. The Center works with key partners at the government and
community levels to help build sustainable mental health care infrastructure in post-conflict
Liberia.

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On July 10, 2007, Rosalynn Carter testified before a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee in favor of t
Parity and Addiction Equity Act, calling for mental illnesses to be covered by insurance on par with physical i
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Public Policy
Using its unique position in Georgia, the Carter Center’s Mental Health Program works to
advance evidence-based public policy at the state level, while identifying best practices that can
inform policy change in other states and at the federal level. A key focus of our work is
to implement and enforce parity laws, so that people can access behavioral health treatment.
During the 2022 state legislative session, the Georgia General Assembly voted unanimously to
pass the Mental Health Parity Act, ensuring that the state will enforce parity in insurance
coverage for behavioral health care for the first time.

The Mental Health Parity Act (Georgia General Assembly - HB 1013 (ga.gov)) will help
Georgians access affordable mental health and substance use disorder treatment for themselves
and their children by ensuring that public and private health insurance plans cover behavioral
health equitably with physical health.
Health care policy is shifting from a focus solely on the management of illnesses toward one that
proactively creates health and well-being in individuals, organizations, and communities,
otherwise known as population health. Population health focuses on building “cultures of health”
in order to reduce the burden of disease and maximize overall health and well-being. Evidence
shows that behavioral health plays a major role in the successful completion of these efforts.
Therefore, the Mental Health Program has undertaken a multiyear endeavor to help ensure that
the consideration of behavioral health and well-being is at the center of efforts to manage the
health of populations. To ensure success, the Mental Health Program develops tools and
strategies that utilize evidence-based approaches to prevention, treatment, and health promotion