Fetterman draws praise for getting help for depression

WASHINGTON — When Patrick Kennedy was in Congress, he would sneak in his treatments for substance abuse over the holidays, in between congressional work periods. He’s going to be a great Senator for a long time, and I’m pulling for him today.” Texas Sen. John Cornyn said the Senate “can be arduous. Dr. Eric Lenze, head of the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis, said he thinks it’s “interesting and heroic” for a major political figure to acknowledge depression, “instead of saying they’re hospitalized for exhaustion or trying to hide it.” While many members are still loath to talk about themselves or their own hardships, some have been more forthcoming about mental illness in recent years. “We’ve come through a plague, we’ve had tremendous mental and emotional health problems.” Raskin, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, says there may have been a time when political leaders had to pretend that hardships didn’t touch their own families, “but I don’t think we are living in that time.” Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, who has been in the Senate for almost three decades, credits returning veterans from the Iraq war and other conflicts “who have convinced us that this is simple medical, mental health care that many people need from time to time. He predicted Fetterman could find a “whole new world of connection with his constituency” when he returns to the Senate, and could help people understand the brain science behind depression.