Advocates, healthcare leaders, and community members from across Georgia will gather at the State Capitol on February 3, 2026, for Mental Health Parity Day, an annual event focused on ensuring mental health care is treated with the same urgency, access, and insurance coverage as physical health care.

Mental Health Parity Day is designed to raise awareness about ongoing gaps in mental health coverage, reduce stigma, and push for policies that guarantee mental health and substance use treatment are equally covered and equally important. The day typically includes advocacy training, educational programming, and a press conference, giving participants the opportunity to share personal stories and call for meaningful policy change.

The event is organized by the Georgia Parity Collaborative in partnership with The Carter Center, continuing a long tradition of mental health advocacy rooted in Georgia’s history.

A legacy shaped by Rosalynn Carter

Mental Health Parity Day also reflects the enduring legacy of Rosalynn Carter, whose work transformed how mental health is viewed both in Georgia and across the nation.

As First Lady of Georgia during Jimmy Carter’s time as governor, Rosalynn Carter chaired the Governor’s Commission on Mental Health, traveling the state to study conditions in psychiatric hospitals and advocating for reforms that emphasized dignity, treatment, and community-based care.

Her commitment deepened during her time as First Lady of the United States, where she became one of the most influential mental health advocates ever to serve in the role. She served as the Honorary Chair of the President’s Commission on Mental Health, helped bring mental health discussions into the national spotlight, and worked to integrate mental health into broader health policy conversations—long before such discussions were common.

Following her years in the White House, Carter continued this work through The Carter Center, co-founding its Mental Health Program to promote awareness, fight stigma, and improve access to care worldwide.

Why parity still matters

Despite federal and state parity laws, advocates say many Georgians still face barriers such as limited provider networks, higher out-of-pocket costs, and difficulty accessing timely mental health services. Mental Health Parity Day serves as both a reminder of progress made and a call to action for continued reform.

Organizers stress that mental health parity is not just a policy issue—it is a public health priority that affects families, workplaces, schools, and communities across Georgia.

As participants gather under the banner of “Equally Covered, Equally Important,” the event carries forward Rosalynn Carter’s lifelong message: that mental health is health—and deserves the same care, compassion, and commitment.