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The Darkness in John Fetterman: Penn Senator reveals 'downward spiral' into depression

John Fetterman spent six weeks at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as he battled clinical depression

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA: John Fetterman has spoken publicly for the first time about the inpatient treatment he has been receiving for depression. He was discharged on Friday, March 31, after spending six weeks at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as he battled clinical depression, his representative Joe Calvello said.

Fetterman has now opened up for the first time in an interview with Jane Pauley of CBS Sunday Morning. “I had stopped leaving my bed,” the freshman Senator from Pennsylvania said on his downward spiral. “I’d stopped eating, dropping weight. I’d stopped engaging in some of the most things that I loved in life."

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'It’s like, you just won the biggest race'

Fetterman said considering his political success, he was aware of the paradox. “It’s like, You just won the biggest race in the country, and the whole thing about depression is that objectively you may have won, but depression can absolutely convince you that you actually lost. And that’s exactly what happened. And that was the start of a downward spiral," he said. 

Fetterman will reportedly return to work when the Senate is back in session in April. "I had a conversation with my 14-year-old and he said, 'Dad, what's wrong? We're great, we're here, and you won!' An incredibly sad moment where my 14-year-old can't possibly understand why you can't get out of your bed," Fetterman said.

At one point, Pauley asked him, "As it was described to me, you were agnostic about the question of living or not at that time?" He answered, "Yeah. Well, I never had any self-harm, but I was indifferent, though. If the doctor said, 'Gee, you have 18 months to live,' I'd be like, 'Yeah. Okay, well, that's how things go.'"

'My aspiration is to take my son to the restaurant'

"What a waste if you hadn't; recovery was weeks away. For the uninitiated, depression doesn't exist in the same sphere as love. So, the question of how can a man not care about living in a world where those children you clearly adore are living?" Pauley said. Fetterman replied, "It makes me sad. You know, the day that I go in was my son's birthday. And I hope that for the rest of his life, his birthday will be joyous, and you don't have to remember that your father was admitted."

Pauley said, "Your trajectory, from the mayor to lieutenant governor, United States Senator, at 53 in politics, that's a young man. Can you have aspirations? Can you serve beyond the United States Senate?"

"You know, my aspiration is to take my son to the restaurant that we were supposed to go to during his birthday but couldn't, because I had checked myself in for depression," Fetterman replied. "And being the kind of dad, the kind of husband, and the kind of senator that Pennsylvania deserves, you know, that's true, that's what my aspiration is."

'John Fetterman is strong and impressive'

Social media hailed Fetterman's for being "brave,", with one user saying, "I think John Fetterman is strong and impressive. I'm glad he is doing better." Another said, "The courage to share his story will, in turn, give courage to so many to seek the help they so deserve! Thank you Jane for sharing Johns story and thank you John for sharing it with us! We support you!" "Wow! What a courageous man to share his story! @JohnFetterman

is a true hero for mental wellness! Thank you so much, Senator #Fetterman," one user said.

"Getting help for depression is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s brave. And it not only helps you but it helps other people who are inspired to get help because they saw you did it. There is nothing wrong with needing help and getting it," one user wrote. "This man is very brave for overcoming the many obstacles that media assured us were not obstacles and no big deal," one user said, while another wrote, "This man will save lives with his story and he will serve his constituents well."

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