Stay strong, Sen. Fetterman
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Center on Wednesday to get treatment for clinical depression, according to multiple news reports.
This after months of discussion about his overall health, after Fetterman suffered a serious stroke during his ‘22 campaign for U.S. Senate.
Subsequent news coverage — including a recent New York Times article that caught its own bit of flak — has been iffy, at best, and the coverage has revealed just how paltry is the language we use to discuss everything from ongoing health challenges to mental health issues, “we” being the media. We already know that we, the media, too often inaccurately link mental health to crime and violence — though citizen journalists tend to do a better, more complete job. We have a lot to do, and learn.
But in the meantime: Kudos to Sen. Fetterman for addressing his health — physical and mental — head-on, and our best to him and his family as he finds his answers.
Amen.
In 2013 my sister, age 57, was found semi conscious on the floor of her apartment after we called the Norwalk PD for a wellness check. She suffered a serious stroke and I was thrust into becoming her health care advocate. A huge challenge as my sister is strong willed and did not have legal provisions to enable me to step right in. She spent time in Norwalk hospital then on to Gaylord. While she never regained her “fastball” she survived and has lived in the Dell Webb community in Summerville for several years. Depression does follow stroke victims and even their family members. Kudos to Fetterman for facing his disease, may his treatment bring him improved health.