Senator John Fetterman opens up about his struggles with depression, sharing a candid look at the emotional toll of mental health issues in public life.
The Democratic senator from Pennsylvania spoke exclusively to CBS about his journey towards healing and recovery. Fetterman shared a harrowing story of how he battled depression after winning a tight election last year, revealing that it left him feeling isolated and disconnected from his loved ones.
"Folks don't talk about this stuff," the senator said in an emotional interview. "They don't want to admit they're not okay... But I know, we all do."
Fetterman explained how he initially tried to hide his struggles behind a mask of success, afraid that if he revealed his vulnerability, it would be seen as weakness. However, this approach only worsened the situation, leading him down a spiral of despair.
"I thought, 'I'll just get over it.' I thought, 'I'll just power through it.' But you can't," Fetterman said, "When you're struggling with something like depression, it's hard to focus on anything else."
He credited his wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, for helping him confront his demons and seeking professional help. The couple has been vocal about mental health issues, using their platform to raise awareness and reduce stigma around the topic.
Fetterman also emphasized the importance of prioritizing self-care and mental wellness, particularly for public figures who often feel pressure to maintain a perfect image.
"Self-care is not selfish," he said. "It's essential."
The senator concluded his conversation by urging Americans to prioritize their mental health and seek help when needed.
The Democratic senator from Pennsylvania spoke exclusively to CBS about his journey towards healing and recovery. Fetterman shared a harrowing story of how he battled depression after winning a tight election last year, revealing that it left him feeling isolated and disconnected from his loved ones.
"Folks don't talk about this stuff," the senator said in an emotional interview. "They don't want to admit they're not okay... But I know, we all do."
Fetterman explained how he initially tried to hide his struggles behind a mask of success, afraid that if he revealed his vulnerability, it would be seen as weakness. However, this approach only worsened the situation, leading him down a spiral of despair.
"I thought, 'I'll just get over it.' I thought, 'I'll just power through it.' But you can't," Fetterman said, "When you're struggling with something like depression, it's hard to focus on anything else."
He credited his wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, for helping him confront his demons and seeking professional help. The couple has been vocal about mental health issues, using their platform to raise awareness and reduce stigma around the topic.
Fetterman also emphasized the importance of prioritizing self-care and mental wellness, particularly for public figures who often feel pressure to maintain a perfect image.
"Self-care is not selfish," he said. "It's essential."
The senator concluded his conversation by urging Americans to prioritize their mental health and seek help when needed.
and I think it's amazing that he's using his platform to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health issues 
we need more people like him who are willing to talk openly about their struggles and show us that it's okay not to be okay 
prioritizing self-care is literally the key to life, especially for public figures who often feel so much pressure to put on a perfect mask 
depression is like a invisible weight on your chest it feels like you're carrying the whole world on yourself... people think they have to be strong all the time but what if that's just a mask? 
we need to talk about this stuff more, it's not weakness to ask for help. I'm glad sen fetterman is using his platform to raise awareness, we need more of these kinds of conversations 
I'm telling ya, this whole thing with Senator Fetterman's depression is way too convenient. Like, he just so happens to be speaking out about it now? It's almost like they're trying to use his vulnerability for propaganda purposes 
. And what's with all these "healing and recovery" stories in the media? It sounds like a carefully crafted PR campaign to me 
. I mean, come on, Fetterman was feeling isolated and disconnected from his loved ones after winning a tight election... that's some pretty suspicious timing if you ask me 
. And what about all the times he's been vocal about mental health issues? Coincidence or something more? 
it's so refreshing to see a high-profile figure like john fetterman sharing their vulnerable side about depression 
. i think it takes a lot of courage to admit when we're not okay and not be afraid to ask for help 
. we need more people like gisele barreto fetterman, who can help normalize conversations around mental wellness 
It's not like he's trying to be weak or anything, he's actually being super brave for sharing this with the world. And honestly, I think we need more people in power who are willing to talk about their struggles and help break down that stigma around mental health.
That we don't have to put on a mask of success and happiness all the time? It's like, Sen Fetterman is literally saying that self-care is essential, and I am HERE. FOR. IT.
especially in a public figure who can make it seem like everything is fine on the surface. i mean, we've all been there, feeling like we're hiding behind a mask of perfection and it's exhausting 
i'm sending all my love to Sen Fetterman and his wife Gisele for using their platform to raise awareness about mental health 
. senators gotta deal with way more stress than the rest of us, u feel? 
. self-care is KEY, especially for public figures who gotta put on a good show 24/7 