GETTING HELP — John Fetterman isn’t the first senator to face mental health challenges and seek treatment. But Thursday’s candid disclosure that he entered inpatient care marked a more vulnerable and urgent path than we’ve seen from other lawmakers, who have often made more curated revelations in service of legislative goals. The Pennsylvania Democrat checked himself into the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Wednesday night to receive inpatient care for clinical depression, his chief of staff said in a statement Thursday. Colleagues from both parties poured their well wishes and support into tweets. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), who’s been outspoken in the past about her own mental health struggles, praised Fetterman in a tweet for seeking help: “In the short time I’ve worked with John Fetterman, I’ve been struck by his resilience and heart. John is doing exactly what he should do, which is seek help. Seeking help when you need it is a sign of strength, not weakness, something that John is demonstrating for all of us.” Smith’s deeply personal floor speech in 2019 about her experience with depression came, like many mental health disclosures from lawmakers, in service of a larger legislative goal to advocate for expanded mental health care services. Reps. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) have also spoken openly about their experiences with PTSD, treatment they've sought and policy ideas for helping fellow veterans. He’s not alone: There is still a long, long way to go before mental health is taken as seriously as physical health, but in recent years, lawmakers on Capitol Hill have made major strides to be more transparent about their own struggles and diagnoses. Roughly a fifth of American adults use medication and millions go to talk therapy for their mental health and the people governing are taking steps to normalize seeking care, according to CDC data. Rep. Richie Torres (D-N.Y.) was open about mental health even before he was first elected to Congress, talking about being diagnosed with depression in his early twenties and taking antidepressants. On Thursday he tweeted his admiration for Fetterman and shared that “back in 2010, I was hospitalized for depression. I would not be alive, let alone in Congress, were it not for mental health care.” While advocating for closing gaps in health insurance coverage between physical and mental illness, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in 2018 revealed his own experience of being diagnosed with pharmacologically induced mania after taking steroids for a rare illness. He said he then suffered from clinical depression for months after the treatment was over. On Thursday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) joined the chorus wishing Fetterman well: “Heidi & I are lifting John up in prayer. Mental illness is real & serious, and I hope that he gets the care he needs. Regardless of which side of the political aisle you’re on, please respect his family’s request for privacy,” tweeted Cruz, whose family has experienced its own mental health challenges. Stigma, still: But mental health treatment and diagnoses among political leaders and candidates are still weaponized in campaign oppo research and hushed conversations about competency. While 2015 may feel like a political eon long ago, that’s when former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) told POLITICO Magazine that mental illness specifically “can be exploited by people and will be.” Gingrich described it as “just the nature of a very rough-and-tumble-type business.” Fetterman’s Chief of Staff, Adam Jentleson said Thursday that the depression “only became severe in recent weeks,” but that after examination by the team at Walter Reed, doctors said Fetterman “is getting the care he needs, and will soon be back to himself.” This marks the second time in the last two weeks Fetterman has been in the hospital. He spent several nights in the hospital for what was described as “lightheadedness.” Testing during that episode showed no evidence of any new stroke or seizure, his office said later. Soon after the statement from his office, Fetterman’s wife tweeted in support of her 53-year-old husband: “After what he’s been through in the past year, there’s probably no one who wanted to talk about his own health less than John. I’m so proud of him for asking for help and getting the care he needs.” Reminder to our beloved Huddle readers that if you’re struggling, that help is out there. Dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline & Crisis Text Line with 24/7 support. Veterans, you too. The Veterans Crisis Line is available at 988 (then Press 1) or text 838255.
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