WASHINGTON—Describing his own positive experience when he sought mental health treatment earlier this year, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) reportedly reached out Friday to a Gazan child who had lost his entire family in an airstrike and encouraged the boy to try therapy. “Trust me, if there’s anyone who knows what it’s like to struggle with depression, it’s me,” said Fetterman, explaining to the 7-year-old that while it can be hard, the first step is to acknowledge that you are in a difficult place and that you need help. “Cognitive behavioral therapy can be really good, especially if you want to work through any unresolved trauma you may have experienced. You may not even understand why you’re feeling so depressed or anxious until you talk about it with a professional and identify the source of your troubles. I know you might think you have everything under control, but seriously, therapy can help.” Fetterman went on to tell the Gazan child that he shouldn’t be afraid to talk to his primary care physician about going on an antidepressant, noting that such medications have improved over the years and have fewer troublesome side effects like weight gain and loss of libido.
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