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What we learned from the Time cover story about Sen. John Fetterman's depression
Philadelphia Inquirer link: https://www.inquirer.com/politics/john-fetterman-pennsylvania-time-magazine-interview-mental-health-depression-stroke-recovery-20230720.html
In an interview with Time magazine, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman opened up about his mental health, how he came out of the darkness of depression, and his mental and physical recovery in the public eye.
The profile of the Pennsylvania Democrat was published Thursday and is being described as the senator’s “most extensive” series of interviews since receiving treatment for his stroke in May 2022. It is also Time’s cover story, with the senator’s portrait featured on the Aug. 14 magazine cover.
- snip -
Depression almost kept him from going to congressional orientation.
At the onset of his depression, Fetterman said, Gisele had to force him to go to the orientation for newly elected members of Congress the week after the election. “Think of the insanity of that,” Fetterman says. “I work for two years. And at the end of that, after nearly dying, after the most infamous debate in American politics, I was going to not show up for orientation. That’s what depression does.”
- snip -
An intervention pushed him into treatment.
Following a Feb. 8 retreat in D.C. for Senate Democrats, Fetterman thought he might be having another stroke. He was still in the early stages of navigating accommodations, such as using an iPad to help with auditory processing. At the event, he sat alone and didn’t talk to anybody. After, his staff took him to George Washington University Hospital, where he received fluids and tests. Days later, Congress’ attending physician diagnosed him with depression and recommended inpatient treatment from Walter Reed’s inpatient neuropsychiatry program. Fetterman said it took an “intervention” from his staffers and family members for him to agree to go.
The profile of the Pennsylvania Democrat was published Thursday and is being described as the senator’s “most extensive” series of interviews since receiving treatment for his stroke in May 2022. It is also Time’s cover story, with the senator’s portrait featured on the Aug. 14 magazine cover.
- snip -
Depression almost kept him from going to congressional orientation.
At the onset of his depression, Fetterman said, Gisele had to force him to go to the orientation for newly elected members of Congress the week after the election. “Think of the insanity of that,” Fetterman says. “I work for two years. And at the end of that, after nearly dying, after the most infamous debate in American politics, I was going to not show up for orientation. That’s what depression does.”
- snip -
An intervention pushed him into treatment.
Following a Feb. 8 retreat in D.C. for Senate Democrats, Fetterman thought he might be having another stroke. He was still in the early stages of navigating accommodations, such as using an iPad to help with auditory processing. At the event, he sat alone and didn’t talk to anybody. After, his staff took him to George Washington University Hospital, where he received fluids and tests. Days later, Congress’ attending physician diagnosed him with depression and recommended inpatient treatment from Walter Reed’s inpatient neuropsychiatry program. Fetterman said it took an “intervention” from his staffers and family members for him to agree to go.
- more at link -
This is very interesting. I'm grateful that he received the treatment he needed. Thank you Senator Fetterman for opening up and telling us how you've recovered from the silent killer, depression.
