Congressman Tom Kean’s hospital treatment for depression may encourage men’s mental health

Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, you can get help. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for free and confidential support.

Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr. spoke to the public in the U.S. House of Representatives about mental health, something politicians rarely do.

Kean explained that he had not been in Washington for more than 100 days, explaining that he had been diagnosed with depression and had been hospitalized for a long time for treatment.

Approximately 18 percent of adults in the United States reported having depression or being treated for depression in both 2024 and 2025. Data from Gallup. Although the condition is common, depression remains stigmatized, and experts say revelations like Kean’s are important in helping more people normalize getting help for mental health problems.

“This is not a partisan issue. It concerns every community, every family and every corner of this country,” Kean said. “If sharing my story encourages even one person to seek help, gives one family the courage to have a difficult conversation, or reminds one person that recovery is possible, then this moment will be precious.”

Fighting persistent stigma

Although it has become more culturally acceptable to talk about mental health in the United States, there is still work to be done to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health conditions and treatment.

Executive psychologist of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Lynn Bufka said it could be a positive step for a man in a position of political power to speak openly about his experiences.

Mental health issues like depression may be stereotyped as primarily affecting women, but anyone can experience it, Bufka said. Psychiatrist, researcher and author of the book “” Dr. Judith Joseph said that in many cases society gives men messages that they cannot be emotionally affected or vulnerable and that getting help is poor.High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy.”

Seeing a person in power step back to seek treatment for their condition can empower others to do the same, Joseph said.

Bufka said the stigma may still affect Kean, but it’s important to emphasize that experiencing depression and receiving treatment does not mean a limitation on his abilities at work.

“There should be no reason for that to be the case, and whether the person has had very severe bronchitis or cancer, after they’ve been treated for something where they haven’t been able to return to full functionality, yet somehow we don’t expect that to question that because of their mental health condition,” he said.

It’s not just emotional

He said Kean initially went to the hospital to have some tests related to health issues when he was diagnosed with depression.

“When people hear the word depression, many people think (or feel) that it just means feeling sad, but depression is so much more than that. It’s physical, it’s emotional, and until you experience it yourself, it’s hard to fully understand how powerful this illness can be,” she said.

Sometimes people with depression don’t notice symptoms and continue to function at a high level until they develop an unhealthy coping behavior, enter a more immobilizing state of depression, or feel it manifest in their physical health, Joseph said.

“If a person has depression, it can have a significant impact on their physical health. If a person is not in good physical health, that can have a significant impact on their mental health,” Bufka said.

Detecting depression beyond stereotypes

Bufka said everyone experiences difficult emotions, but depression is different. If feelings of sadness, worthlessness, hopelessness, or emptiness persist for a long time, usually defined as two or more weeks, you may be experiencing depression.

Depression doesn’t always look like lying in bed in tears all day. In fact, sometimes sadness doesn’t play a significant role, and misunderstandings can prevent people from getting help, Joseph said.

Symptoms of depression include poor concentration, lack of interest or joy, problems sleeping too much or too little, eating too much or loss of appetite, and low energy or feeling restless. Men in particular experience symptoms not stereotypically associated with depression, such as irritability, Jospeh said.

Sometimes these symptoms can disappear as a temporary response to external stressors, but Bufka says there are two important signs that it’s time to talk to a medical professional: If you or a loved one is experiencing changes in eating and/or sleeping and has a tendency to withdraw socially, depression may be the problem.

Your primary care doctor can screen for depression, but there are also online resources for people who can’t reach a clinician right away. Mental Health America offers online and clinically validated scans and resources to get help.

D., psychotherapist and vice president of community initiatives for the mental health nonprofit The Jed Foundation. If you are in crisis or having suicidal thoughts, you can text HOME to 741-741 and text 988 or call 988 or use the chat function at 988lifeline.org to speak confidentially with a counselor, Katie Hurley said.

Getting help for an invisible illness

The first line of defense for depression is often psychotherapy, medications or a combination of the two, Bufka said.

People who may have been traumatized may benefit from treatments that address those experiences, Joseph said.

Treating depression is not one-size-fits-all because there are many factors that can contribute to someone developing this condition, including social environments, coping strategies, substance use, diet, exercise, and sleep. Genetics also play a crucial role in who is most at risk, Joseph said.

As you try different ways to address your depression, people should keep in mind that treatment will likely take some time — especially if you’ve been experiencing the symptoms for a while, Bufka said.

“It’s like you’ve walked a long distance through the forest and suddenly you can’t go back,” he said.. “You need to do some work to get back.”

Joseph said no one should be ashamed to ask for help or use mental health tools.

“When it comes to mental health issues, there’s this idea that because it’s an invisible illness, you should be able to beat it on your own,” she said. “Nobody is saying, ‘Don’t wear those glasses, try to fix your vision problem.’ They’re saying, ‘Wear your glasses so you can read.'”

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