Sen. John Fetterman opens up about stroke, depression in Men’s Health profile


Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman will be featured on the December 2023 cover of Men’s Health, which includes a discussion about his battle with depression, a stroke and running for U.S. Senate in the same year.Fetterman was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2022. Earlier that year, in May, just four days before the Pennslyvania primary election, Fetterman had a stroke.After his stroke, Fetterman had to debate Republican candidate Mehmet Oz, where he thought his debate performance would ensure his loss.”I knew it was going to be rough…I have an overpolished TV guy like that—but I believed that people deserved to know this is where I’m at. This is what’s been done to me. So I did it, and I knew it was rough.”Despite the stroke and thinking his debate performance was rough, Fetterman continued to run for Senate, beating Oz.After being elected to the Senate, Fetterman began experiencing symptoms of depression and admitted himself into the hospital for treatment.In the interview with Men’s Health, Fetterman opens up about his struggle with depression and why he is grateful to be here. Fetterman states that while he was unsure if he had suffered from depression before, he had experienced an altered mental state.“I don’t even know if I’d call it depression, but melancholy,” Fetterman said.Since returning from the hospital to the Senate, Fetterman has become an advocate for mental illnesses. He stated that he hopes talking about his experience encourages others to get the help they may need.“It’s more like affirming gratitude. It’s like, my God, I don’t want anybody else to suffer. Isn’t that what any politician should really want out of his or her career, to reduce suffering and make things better?”As for now, Fetterman said he’s proud of his journey.“Now it’s just being the kind of senator that Pennsylvania deserves. And I’m grateful for the choice that they made to give me the ability to serve, and I think the depression has made me a much more effective and empathetic senator. After kind of dying, I’m just grateful for any time, whatever that is.”Fetterman’s feature in Men’s Health will be in the December 2023 issue and in newsstands on Nov. 21.If you or a loved one is struggling, the universal phone number to call for suicide prevention is 988.Men’s Health is owned by Hearst, the parent company of this television station.

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman will be featured on the December 2023 cover of Men’s Health, which includes a discussion about his battle with depression, a stroke and running for U.S. Senate in the same year.

Fetterman was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2022. Earlier that year, in May, just four days before the Pennslyvania primary election, Fetterman had a stroke.

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After his stroke, Fetterman had to debate Republican candidate Mehmet Oz, where he thought his debate performance would ensure his loss.

“I knew it was going to be rough…I have an overpolished TV guy like that—but I believed that people deserved to know this is where I’m at. This is what’s been done to me. So I did it, and I knew it was rough.”

Despite the stroke and thinking his debate performance was rough, Fetterman continued to run for Senate, beating Oz.

After being elected to the Senate, Fetterman began experiencing symptoms of depression and admitted himself into the hospital for treatment.

In the interview with Men’s Health, Fetterman opens up about his struggle with depression and why he is grateful to be here.

Fetterman states that while he was unsure if he had suffered from depression before, he had experienced an altered mental state.

“I don’t even know if I’d call it depression, but melancholy,” Fetterman said.

Since returning from the hospital to the Senate, Fetterman has become an advocate for mental illnesses. He stated that he hopes talking about his experience encourages others to get the help they may need.

“It’s more like affirming gratitude. It’s like, my God, I don’t want anybody else to suffer. Isn’t that what any politician should really want out of his or her career, to reduce suffering and make things better?”

As for now, Fetterman said he’s proud of his journey.

“Now it’s just being the kind of senator that Pennsylvania deserves. And I’m grateful for the choice that they made to give me the ability to serve, and I think the depression has made me a much more effective and empathetic senator. After kind of dying, I’m just grateful for any time, whatever that is.”

Fetterman’s feature in Men’s Health will be in the December 2023 issue and in newsstands on Nov. 21.

If you or a loved one is struggling, the universal phone number to call for suicide prevention is 988.

Men’s Health is owned by Hearst, the parent company of this television station.


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