By Kaitlyn Scanlon, Alliance Intern from Oregon State University ’26
In honor of World Mental Health Day October 10, we’re sharing the story of how US Senator John Fetterman (D, PA) refreshingly authenticated the political scene by honestly speaking about his battles with severe depression and life-saving treatment. Fetterman suffered a near-fatal stroke in May of 2022 and checked into the neuropsychiatry unit of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for over 6 weeks the following February.
He did so to combat the intense depression that had set in following his stroke. TIME described him as “a shell of himself—gaunt, listless, barely able to function” upon his arrival to the medical center, and reported that Fetterman “considers himself lucky to have survived.” Fetterman spent months off the campaign trail recuperating in the hospital before his August return. Once back, he asked audience members to raise their hands if they or loved ones were affected by serious health issues and said: “We’ve all been through this; I’m just doing it in the public eye.”
Perhaps the most significant harm perpetuated against Fetterman in the public eye was the vicious $300 million Senate campaign by Mehmet Oz — Fetterman’s Republican opponent — to relentlessly demean him. Appropriately, TIME reported his belief that the attacks “exacerbated his depressive slide.”
The darkness of his depressive descent set in after his disastrous election debate and subsequent win of the Senate position a couple weeks later. His DC orientation, holidays with the family, the death of journalist Blake Hounshell (a fellow stroke survivor) and a Senate retreat were all events he waded through in a depressive haze. Following his brief stint in George Washington Hospital, he was finally admitted to Walter Reed February 15.
Dr. David Williamson, director of Walter Reed’s inpatient neuropsychiatry program, described his depression not as “a sadness presentation,” but as “a lack of responsiveness and a flatness, a lack of that spark or passion you would expect to see in humans.” After conducting many tests and adjusting medications, Fetterman’s condition improved.
The real turning point, though, was the visit from his wife Gisele and kids, and the shower of love and heartfelt sticky-note messages they lavished upon him. “Gisele brought the family, and they picked up a packet of Post-it notes that Fetterman’s father had left to help him with his reading,” according to Time. In black ballpoint pen, they covered the neon pink, yellow, and blue stickies with pictures and messages: “We love you,” “Best dad ever,” “YOU WILL GET BETTER.” It’s touching that such a simple act can make such a big difference.
As he shared with Time, Fetterman framed the more than 100 precious notes: “I’m going to save these till the day I die,” he said, crying. “Their visit was really kind of a pivot, where I realized that this is a choice. You have the support, you have the medical community, you have therapy. And this was a catalyst that helped direct me to the way forward.”
Fetterman left the hospital to be with his family on March 31 and returned to the Senate on April 17. His doctor declared his depression to be in remission and his future prognosis good, so long as he stuck to the treatment regimen they formulated during his last couple weeks in the hospital.
Fetterman’s unfiltered mental health journey received mixed responses from the public with some saying he should step down. However, he was showered with positivity and well-wishes from lawmakers and constituents on both sides of the political spectrum.
Williamson (Fetterman’s doctor) reported to TIME that he “believes Fetterman’s openness about his struggles has the power to help countless others.” He continued by emphasizing how crucial it is that the symptoms of depression become widely recognized, and that “the way we’re going to get there is when public figures like Senator Fetterman speak out and say help is out there and you can get better.”
Coming out of a tumultuous battle with depression in the sometimes scathing, other times supportive public eye, Fetterman’s clear message remains: “I don’t care if you’re a Trumper, MAGA, or hard leftist, or anyone in between. Depression comes across the spectrum, and get help with it.”
He emphasized, “It’s not a Democratic Senator from Pennsylvania saying this. No. I’m just a husband and a father, somebody that was suffering from depression and got help — before it was too late. Before some things could have—damage that can’t be undone. And I would just implore anybody to get help. Because it can work. It worked. And I’m so grateful.”