Senator speaks out about his struggle with depression | CNN Politics

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman opened up about his struggle with depression in a recent interview, revealing that he has been battling the mental health condition for over 20 years.

Fetterman, who won a tight election last year, spoke to CBS about how depression took a toll on him during his campaign and even led to a "downward spiral" at one point. He described feeling overwhelmed by the demands of the campaign trail and struggling to connect with voters.

The senator emphasized that he has been seeking treatment for his depression since 2002 and has had support from friends, family, and medical professionals. Fetterman also acknowledged that he has made mistakes in the past due to his struggles with depression, including a 2010 arrest for disorderly conduct after an altercation at a police station.

Fetterman's openness about his mental health is significant, as it helps to break down the stigma surrounding depression and encourages others to speak up about their own experiences. His honesty also serves as a reminder that even those in positions of power can struggle with mental health issues.

The senator's words come as he continues to navigate life after his election win. In his interview with CBS, Fetterman expressed gratitude for the support of his wife, Gifford, and daughter, Audrey, who have been by his side throughout his struggles. He also emphasized the importance of seeking help when needed and encouraged others to do the same.

Fetterman's story is a powerful reminder that mental health matters, and that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. His openness about his struggles with depression has inspired many, and his message serves as a beacon of hope for those struggling with their own mental health issues.
 
I'm worried about the whole "toughen up" vibe that comes with being in power πŸ€”. I mean, Fetterman's got this super tough job as senator, but it doesn't excuse him from having to deal with depression, you know? And yeah, he's lucky to have an amazing support system, but what about those who don't have that kinda safety net? πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ

It's all well and good for Fetterman to say "oh, I've been seeking treatment since 2002", but what about the ones who can't afford therapy or just need someone to talk to in the first place? πŸ’Έ Mental health is not a luxury, it's a necessity. We need more than just inspirational speeches from people in power... we need actual policy changes and resources to support those struggling 🚨
 
I'm so glad to see John Fetterman sharing his story like this... it's totally normal to struggle with depression πŸ€• even if you're in politics or have a big public presence. I mean, can you imagine how hard it must've been for him to deal with all the pressure and expectations during his campaign? I'm just glad he spoke up about it now - mental health stigma is still so ruff out there πŸ’” we need more people like him who are willing to be open and honest about their struggles.

It's also super inspiring to see how supportive his family has been... that's what we all need, right? A support system that's got our backs πŸ€—. And you're right, it's so important for us to prioritize our mental health - getting help when we need it is never a sign of weakness, it's a sign of self-care πŸ’†β€β™€οΈ.
 
I'm so glad to see someone in power be like totally open about their struggles with depression πŸ€—. It's like, it takes a lot of courage to share that kinda thing, especially when you're in the public eye. I mean, I've seen some people hide behind "toughing it out" or "being strong," but Fetterman is like, "nope, I'm not gonna do that." He's showing everyone that it's okay to ask for help and seek treatment 🀝.

I think this kinda thing helps break down the stigma around depression, which is so important. We need more people talking about their mental health, especially men πŸ™Œ. It's like, we can't just expect them to be all stoic and stuff when they're struggling. Fetterman's story is inspiring because he's not afraid to show his vulnerability and ask for help when he needs it πŸ’•.

It's also refreshing to see him talking about how seeking help has been a game-changer for him 🀯. Like, if we can just normalize getting support for our mental health, that would be amazing 😊.
 
just when you think politicians are all tough and perfect πŸ™…β€β™‚οΈ... nope! Sen John Fetterman is like us, vulnerable too πŸ˜”. 20 years of depression battle? that's insane πŸ’”. I'm glad he spoke up tho, it's about time we break the stigma around mental health 🀝. I mean, who doesn't know someone who struggles with anxiety or depression? even my non-confrontational aunt has been there 🀫. anyway, kudos to Sen Fetterman for being so open and honest πŸ’―. maybe he can help create more support systems in the government πŸ“ˆ.
 
πŸ€•πŸ’” Fetterman's story is so brave πŸ™Œ! Mental health is just as important as physical health πŸ’ͺ. He's showing the world that it's okay to not be okay 😊. Depression can sneak up on anyone, and it's amazing that he's been seeking help for over 20 years πŸ’―. His openness is a huge step in breaking down that stigma 🌈. We need more people like him sharing their struggles so others feel less alone 🀝. Fetterman's wife and daughter are lucky to have him 😊, and his message of seeking help when needed is everything we should be listening to πŸ’¬!
 
I'm so glad to see John Fetterman being honest about his struggle with depression πŸ™. It's like, we need more people in power to talk about this stuff, you know? It's not just something that happens to "weak" people or those who can't handle the pressure. Depression is a real thing that affects anyone, and it's crazy how stigmatized it still is 🀯.

I'm proud of him for being open about his struggles, especially since he was in a high-stress situation like a Senate campaign. It takes a lot of guts to admit when you need help, and I hope it inspires others to do the same πŸ’ͺ. His story is like, proof that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but actually a sign of strength 🌟.
 
depression is like an invisible enemy πŸ˜” it can sneak up on u at any time n take over ur life. i think its cool dat sen john fetterman is speakin out about it, but at da same time, some ppl might be thinkin 'why r we talkin about dis now?' shouldn't he b doin more 2 help others who are goin thru da same thing? πŸ€”
 
Depression got John Fetterman down to the state floor 🀣, but he's back up and running now! 20 years is a looong time to be dealing with it, that's like having a teenager as a roommate - never ending πŸ˜‚. Kudos to him for being brave enough to share his story and helping break the stigma around mental health. And if anyone needs a reminder, seeking help is not a sign of weakness, it's like calling in sick from work - you don't wanna be there anyway πŸ€’!
 
😊🌞 I'm so proud of John Fetterman for being so open about his struggles with depression! It's like he's shining a light on something that's still really hard to talk about, and that can be super helpful for others who are going through the same thing. 🀝 He's showing us that it's okay to not be okay, and that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. πŸ’ͺ I think this is such an important conversation to have, and I'm glad he's having it! πŸ‘
 
I'm so glad to see John Fetterman being real about his struggles with depression πŸ€—. It takes a lot of courage to talk openly about mental health, especially when you're in the public eye. I mean, we've all been there, right? 😊 Fetterman's story is like, super relatable. He's showing us that even someone who seems like they have it all together (like a senator) can be struggling with something just as serious as anyone else.

It's also amazing to see how supportive his loved ones are 🀝. Gifford and Audrey must be so proud of him for being brave enough to share this part of himself with the world. And I love that he's encouraging others to do the same πŸ’–. Mental health is like, super important, you know? We need more people speaking up about it, not just hiding behind a mask 🌈.

I think Fetterman's openness is gonna make a real difference in breaking down that stigma around depression πŸ’₯. It's time we start talking about this stuff, instead of shaming or judging each other πŸ™…β€β™‚οΈ. Anyway, I'm totally here for it πŸ’–
 
I'm so over Fetterman's whole "struggling with depression" thing πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ. I mean, come on, 20 years of battling it? That's not struggling, that's just existing πŸ˜’. And what's with the constant need for sympathy? It's like he's trying to win some kind of award for Most Vulnerable Politician Ever πŸ†. Newsflash, John: being a senator doesn't make you special just because you have mental health issues πŸ’”. And another thing, why is everyone so quick to fawn all over him now that he's been open about it? Like, what was the point of even having a secret 🀐?
 
I'm so glad to see John Fetterman being so open about his struggles with depression it's like he's showing us that even the most powerful people can be vulnerable πŸ€—. I think it's amazing how he's been seeking treatment since 2002, that takes a lot of courage and it's clear that having his wife and daughter by his side has made all the difference πŸ’•. I mean, depression is like this invisible enemy that you can't even see or touch but it's so real for people who experience it. It's like Fetterman is saying "okay, I've been here, I'm still standing" πŸ’ͺ. We need more politicians like him who are willing to talk about their struggles and not be ashamed of it 🀝.
 
πŸ€— I'm so proud of John Fetterman for being so brave and open about his struggle with depression 🌟 It's amazing how one person can make such a big difference by sharing their story, right? πŸ’– I totally get it, feeling overwhelmed and struggling to connect with people can be really tough. But you know what they say, "You can't pour from an empty cup"... taking care of yourself is the most important thing πŸ§ΉπŸ’†β€β™‚οΈ Fetterman's message is so powerful - seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness πŸ’ͺ Let's keep spreading awareness and breaking down that stigma around mental health πŸ’•
 
omg u guys he's so brave!! i love how he's being open about it, like we should all be able to talk about our struggles without fear lol 20 yrs of battling depression is crazy but im glad he found help & support from loved ones πŸ’• and from medical professionals too. his story is literally a reminder that seeking help is the first step to feeling better 🌈 and i think it's amazing how he's encouraging others to do the same πŸ’ͺ
 
It's so great to see John Fetterman being open about his struggles with depression πŸ€—. As a parent, I can only imagine how hard it must be to balance the demands of public life with taking care of your own mental health. It takes a lot of courage to share this kind of vulnerability, especially when you're in a position of power.

I hope that by sharing his story, John is helping to break down some of that stigma around depression 🚫. As parents, we know how important it is to talk about our feelings and seek help when we need it. It's not something to be ashamed of, but rather something to be proud of πŸ’ͺ.

Let's all try to be more supportive of each other and encourage those around us to speak up about their mental health struggles 🀝. Every little bit counts, and maybe one day we'll see a cultural shift where mental health is just as normal as physical health 🌞!
 
omg u guys i cant even believe how brave john fetterman is 4 speaking up about his depression struggles πŸ™ it takes so much courage 2 admit when ur not okay & he's like literally putting himself out there 4 the world 2 see 2 know that its okay 2 ask 4 help its amazing 2 c him being so open & honest about his journey its gonna inspire so many ppl 2 speak up & get help 🌟
 
just saw john fetterman talk about his depression fight πŸ€•πŸ’”. 20 yrs he's been dealing with it, wow. its crazy how even ppl in power struggle w/ mental health. good on him 4 speaking up & helping break the stigma around depression πŸ’―πŸ‘
 
I think it's so brave of John Fetterman to share this part of himself. It takes a lot of courage to admit when we're not okay, you know? πŸ™ Like, I've been in situations where I felt overwhelmed too, and it can be really scary to ask for help. But Fetterman's story is showing us that it's okay to say "I need some support right now" - it doesn't make us weak, it makes us human 😊.

And it's true, mental health issues affect people from all walks of life, even those in power positions. We can't just assume that everyone has their act together, you know? 🀯 Fetterman's openness is like a breath of fresh air - he's showing us that it's okay to be vulnerable and ask for help.

It's also really inspiring to see how his loved ones have supported him throughout this journey. It just goes to show that having a strong support system can make all the difference in our mental health struggles πŸ’•
 
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