Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) will likely remain in inpatient care for “a few weeks” following his hospitalization for clinical depression, according to a senior aide.
The freshman senator, who is continuing to recover from a debilitating stroke in May, checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Wednesday for treatment. His bout of depression surprised staff and the senator himself, according to NBC News.
FETTERMAN CHECKS HIMSELF INTO WALTER REED FOR ‘CLINICAL DEPRESSION’
NEW: A senior aide to Senator Fetterman tells me he will likely be in inpatient care for clinical depression for “a few weeks.”
— Dasha Burns (@DashaBurns) February 17, 2023
Fetterman has continued auditory processing problems from the stroke, which the aide said has obscured what the senator is going through.
It’s difficult to tell if he’s “not hearing you, or is he sort of crippled by his depression and social anxiety,” the aide told NBC.
After his hospitalization for depression, many people expressed support for his decision to seek help and to be public about his need for mental health treatment.
His wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, said she was proud of him for asking for help.
“After what he’s been through in the past year, there’s probably no one who wanted to talk about his own health less than John. I’m so proud of him for asking for help and getting the care he needs,” she said in a Thursday tweet.
“Millions of Americans, like John, struggle with depression each day. I am looking forward to seeing him return to the Senate soon. Sending love and support to John, Gisele, and their family,” Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tweeted Thursday.
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This is the second time Fetterman has been hospitalized since he assumed office at the beginning of January. He was admitted earlier this month for tests after feeling lightheaded. Doctors ruled out another stroke and seizures.
Questions about Fetterman’s health have dogged him since the stroke, which occurred days before his victory in the Democratic Senate primary. He faced fierce competition from Republican Mehmet Oz, who questioned Fetterman’s ability to serve in office on the campaign trail.
