Insurance parity is on the minds of mental health advocates during the 30th Carter Center forum

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Former U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy speaks at the Carter Center 30th Mental Health Forum on May 20, 2026.

Credit: Carter Center/Michael Schwarz

This week the Carter Center hosted its 30th annual Mental Health Forum, continuing the work of former first lady Rosalynn Carter, bringing together thought leaders and experts from all corners of mental health advocacy.  

Former U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy spoke at the event. He worked with the Carter Center to pass the 2008 federal Mental Health Parity Act that helped Georgia craft its state parity law. 

Kennedy said Georgia could still improve by investing more in prevention.

"Right now, we pay for the most costly care because we wait until it becomes a crisis," Kennedy said. "No surprise; if you waited for cancer to be Stage 4, you'd end up spending a lot more money than if you did much more, early on, to screen."

Kennedy said the savings to taxpayers are not just in healthcare but criminal justice and human services.

The Forum included an update about priorities and plans of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities from Commissioner Kevin Tanner and panels on topics ranging from immigrant to youth mental health and caregiving needs in society.