A column I wrote in February 2023, focusing on the mental health of men, was distinctively different. I told the personal story of U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, who had checked into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and publicly announced that he was suffering with depression. I praised Fetterman for the courage to disclose his condition and get help. He was leading an important movement, stepping over decades of male culture by demonstrating that it was OK for a guy to seek mental health treatment.
As a high-profile politician, I categorized Fetterman with other public personalities like Eagles lineman Lane Johnson and former Eagles Brian Dawkins and Malcom Jenkins, all of whom had spoken out about their own struggles with depression and received widespread support. As a 53-year-old, Fetterman made the story even more compelling. For a man to admit to a mental health crisis was incredibly hard.
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Earlier this month, we saw how hard it can be to maintain a commitment to one's mental well-being. A story published by New York Magazine revealed that Fetterman's former chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, had penned an email last year to David Williamson, the doctor who had overseen Fetterman's care at Walter Reed. In the email, Jentleson expressed concern for the senator's condition and a fear for his life.
Jentleson alleged Fetterman's behavior indicated he wasn't taking his medication and spoke about Fetterman avoiding medical check-ups, having a preoccupation with social media, damaging personal relationships, and exhibiting other forms of erratic behavior.
Within days, the New York Times reported that Fetterman's behavior remains a concern among aides in his inner circle, and the Inquirer detailed how Fetterman has become disengaged with his job, reporting that he is frequently absent from meetings and avoids colleagues.
For his part, Fetterman denied any problems. He told the New York Times that he is "very well," and called the New York Magazine article a "hit piece." The common denominator in these stories, of course, is whether the senator is experiencing a relapse of his mental health conditions. I'll leave the political implications of Fetterman's future to others. But as a 50-plus man, his story remains compelling and a lesson for other men who may be struggling with their mental health.
Relapses are common
Research published in the medical journal Clinical Psychology Review says that recurrence is common in major depression, with some clinicians believing that depression follows a "relapsing-remitting" course. Scientific nuances described by the researchers that distinguish relapse (the return of symptoms associated with the remitted episode) and recurrence (the onset of a new episode following recovery) demonstrate the complexity and unique circumstances of each case.
Mental Health America describes recovery from mental illness as a journey with ups and downs and setbacks. However, the organization also points out that mental illness is manageable and that there are a number of actions that can support recovery. Given these references, what Fetterman may be experiencing is consistent with a broad body of science and is not surprising. If you are a guy whose journey has undergone some difficulties, don't think you're alone.
The importance of self-care
If Fetterman's story hits home, or at a minimum, motivates you to pay more attention to your mental well-being, take heart. There are things you can do to maintain your mental health, and if you've been diagnosed with mental illness, these steps can help support your treatment and recovery. As a bonus, these habits also can contribute to your physical fitness.
The National Institute of Mental Health says even the smallest acts of self-care each day can have a positive impact on one's emotional, psychological and social well-being. These acts include regular exercise, a balanced diet with plenty of water, proper sleep, and relaxing activities like meditation, music and low-stress hobbies. The NIMH also recommends people set goals, clarify their priorities and learn to say "no" to added tasks that may cause stress. Staying positive and learning to manage negative and unhelpful thoughts also a is great tactic.
The recovery journey
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness "the cornerstones of recovery are self-determination, treatment, engagement with family and friends, work and hope." The Alliance stresses the importance of loved ones along with respectful caregivers and competent and compassionate mental health practitioners.
The organization outlines strategies that can advance recovery more quickly and easily. They include maintaining hope, actively engaging treatment services, starting your recovery immediately and never delaying care, finding caring and trusting care providers, making sure your care providers understand community factors that can influence treatment, developing strategies to cope with stigma, and engaging peer support.
Lessons for men
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that nearly 1 in 10 men experience depression or anxiety but less than half receive treatment. More than four times as many men as women die by suicide every year. And more than 3 million men in the U.S. have panic disorder, agoraphobia, or other phobias. Yes, mental health in men is a big deal.
Fetterman's most recent challenges illustrate the complexities of the journey, the difficulty in staying true to the care plan, and the implications for one's personal and professional life.
Fetterman's story is far from over, but there are critical lessons already emerging. If Jentleson's points about Fetterman's non-adherence to his prescribed health regimen are true (a possibility consistent with the science of recovery), then the lesson is that it is imperative that one follows doctor's orders — no matter how hard. The second lesson is that there are a ton of resources to find support along with tactics for self-care.
Regardless of politics, I trust that people of all political persuasions will be empathetic to the senator's road ahead and I hope that he eventually acknowledges what is going on and, again, whatever help he needs. It is a far too common story that affects far too many men and the people that love them.
Louis Bezich, senior vice president and chief administrative officer at Cooper University Health Care, is author of "Crack The Code: 10 Proven Secrets that Motivate Healthy Behavior and Inspire Fulfillment in Men Over 50." Read more from Louis on his website.