Africa-Press – Liberia. Liberia mental health clinicians have expressed sorrow over the passing of the former US First Lady, Mrs. Rosalynn Smith Carter.
Recognized for her tireless advocacy and dedication to mental health issues, Mrs. Carter’s legacy has left an indelible mark on the global mental health community.
Mrs. Carter died at the age of 96 in her home in Plains, Georgia, on November 19, 2023. She was deeply admired for her impactful contributions to both national and global affairs.
In Liberia, where mental health services are still in their nascent stages, Mrs. Carter’s work served as a guiding light for clinicians striving to improve access and quality of care for those suffering from mental illnesses.
Dr. Benjamin Harris, Chair of the Dept. of Psychiatry at the University of Liberia, who spoke at the signing of her book of condolences in Monrovia, noted that the former US First Lady has done tremendous work in the area of mental health in Liberia.
“So, we, the members of the mental health team in Liberia, will certainly miss her. We can also learn a lot of things from her: to be passionate about whatever your calling is, to commit yourself to it, and to spread the good news of that calling so other people can benefit from it, not only to keep it to yourself so that we can strengthen the area,” Harris stressed.
He observed that the impact of the Carter Foundation has been felt throughout the country with regard to the training of mental health clinicians.
Harris disclosed that Mrs. Carter was not only a beloved figure in American politics but also an advocate for mental health awareness and destigmatization.
He further said that Mrs. Carter’s dedication to improving mental health services and promoting understanding has left an indelible mark on the field.
The chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Liberia also indicated that Mrs. Carter was a passionate woman about improving mental health needs, including services for individuals with mental health illnesses throughout the world.
He said, “So when we heard that a book of condolences had been opened here at the Carter Center, we thought it wise and our responsibility and duty to come and pay our last respect to her.”
According to him, the former U.S. first lady will be missed so dearly because she was a guardian angel in the area of mental health in Liberia and around the world.
Davidetta Parker Sirleaf, Administrator of the E.S. Grant Mental Health Hospital at JFK, in her remarks, acknowledged that throughout her life, Mrs. Carter worked tirelessly to raise awareness about mental health issues and fought against the discrimination faced by those struggling with their mental well-being.
“We are saddened by the loss of Mrs. Carter. Her presence has left a mark on our hearts, and we hope that it will live on because her footprint has been laid on the earth, and we know that it will serve as a legacy that others will follow,” she added.
According to her, mental health clinicians in Liberia deeply admired Mrs. Carter’s dedication and commitment to improving mental health worldwide.
Sirleaf noted that her tireless efforts in establishing The Carter Center’s Mental Health Program have had a profound impact on the field by building human capacity and training mental health clinicians at the E.S. Grant Mental Health Hospital, which is the only tertiary psychiatry hospital in the country.
“I feel mournful because her impact has affected all of us as Liberians after our post-war period; we have a lot of post-traumatic stress disorder trauma that we experienced when we emerged from the war. And Liberia has had a poor health system, especially when it comes to health issues,” she said.
“She has helped us because the manpower there was limited to the knowledge of psychiatry nursing, and today 80 percent of our clinicians are all mental health clinicians aside from psychiatrists, so we appreciate the services that have been offered by the late Mrs. Carter through the Carter Center in Liberia.”
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