Popular actor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ex-wife Maria Shriver recently took her Instagram account and posted picture of Bruce Willis and US Democratic Senator John Fetterman with the following caption:
The news about these two men today got me thinking today. First about bravery. It’s brave of Bruce’s family to acknowledge such a devastating disease. It’s brave of John Fetterman to seek help for depression, regardless of the public fallout. Both of those men and their families deserve our compassion, as do all families dealing with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or depression.
It’s hard for many to think of or see someone like Bruce Willis with such a devastating neurological disease, frontotemporal dementia (FTD). He seems so young, right, but millions are like him. And millions more care for people like him. It’s my life’s work to find a cure for Alzheimer’s and dementia, and to shine a spotlight on the caregivers who support them all over our country.
Sen. Fetterman may not look like someone with depression, but that’s the point worth noting here. We never know what people are dealing with or going through, which is why it’s always good to err on the side of compassion, love, and understanding. So many men are struggling in our society. I know women are too, but men are really struggling today with a whole host of issues — depression, suicide, despair, and so much more. As a mother of two young men, I’m glad my sons can witness two men stepping forward, bravely, to acknowledge their health challenges. I hope I see society embracing them, not judging them, and I hope I don’t see paparazzis trespassing over their privacy. I hope I see their and their families’ privacy respected during what is a difficult time.
It has been noted that the Pennsylvania lawmaker has faced depression “off and on throughout his life”, a statement said. He was elected in November and suffered a debilitating stroke last year while campaigning for the seat.
Last week, he spent two days in hospital after being admitted. He was reported to be feeling light-headed. Mr Fetterman’s depression grew more “severe” in recent weeks, his chief of staff Adam Jentleson said in a statement on Thursday. The aide said the 53-year-old senator’s decision to seek treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center came after consultation with the acting physician in Congress, Dr Brian Monahan.
