Topline
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Thursday to receive treatment for clinical depression, just days after being hospitalized for lightheadedness and months after suffering a stroke—here’s what we know about his health.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., leaves an intelligence briefing on the unknown aerial objects the U.S. … [+] military shot down.
AP/J. Scott Applewhite
Timeline
Key Background
Fetterman’s response to his health issues in the leadup to the general election was heavily scrutinized for its lack of transparency. The senator declined to release medical records up until October and even then only released a letter from his cardiologist. In the letter, Dr. Ramesh Chandra explained the senator suffers from a condition that prevents his heart from pumping blood properly. Chandra also said Fetterman previously neglected doctor’s appointments for five years, but if that pattern changed and he took his recovery seriously, “he should be able to campaign and serve in the U.S. Senate without a problem.” While doctors said Fetterman was fit to serve, the stroke did not leave him unscathed. Fetterman now has a hearing impairment that requires him to use a close captioning device to partake in conversations, a common tool for people with hearing or auditory processing problems. He explained that to NBC News in an October interview, “I sometimes will hear things in a way that’s not perfectly clear.” It’s not clear whether Fetterman’s stroke has any connection to him seeking treatment for clinical depression, but depression is a common experience for stroke survivors, according to the American Stroke Association.
Tangent
Fetterman is not the first politician to disclose a depression diagnosis, but his announcement illustrates how the dialogue around mental health issues, specifically depression, has changed. Fifty years ago Sen. Thomas Eagleton (D-Mo.), a 1972 vice-presidential nominee, was pushed off the ticket after revealing he had been hospitalized for depression three times and had undergone electroshock therapy. Now, multiple members of congress have publicly disclosed their depression diagnosis. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) revealed he received treatment for his post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the Iraq War. Sen. Tina Smith also disclosed her battle with depression in 2019 in an effort to destigmatize and demystify mental illness, she said.
What We Don’t Know
Exactly how long Fetterman will be in treatment for his clinical depression. A senior Fetterman aide told NBC News they expect the senator to be out for a few weeks.
Further Reading
Sen. Fetterman Hospitalized For ‘Severe’ Depression (Forbes)
Fetterman’s Doctor Says He’s Fit To Serve In Senate After Stroke (Forbes)
