Celebrating the Leaders Who Have Advanced Mental Healthcare

Their impact laid the foundation for today’s advances.

KEY POINTS
  • The U.S. government ramped up mental health awareness and action in the 1990s and the 21st century.
  • The mental health experiences of Black Americans drives Black leaders to address this underserved population.
  • Anyone can become an advocate for mental wellness, continuing the work of many dedicated and creative leaders.

As the United States marks Presidents Day every February, we celebrate the birthdays of our first president, George Washington, as well as the president who ended slavery in America, Abraham Lincoln. Imagine how Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and subsequently, the 13th Amendment affected the mental health of the millions of Black people who had lived without hope as…