Rep. Yadira Carabeo (D-Colorado) spoke Monday about her experience with depression, receiving treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and said she wants to “eliminate the stigma” of mental illness.
Carabeo, In a statement on MondayShe said she “suffers from depression, like many Americans,” and that her symptoms have “gotten more severe” in recent months.
“As a physician, I always encourage my patients to look after their own health first and get the help they need,” she said, adding, “I decided to follow my own advice and seek treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center.”
“I’m sharing this today because I believe we need to end the stigma around mental illness in Colorado and across the country, and I hope that the millions of people who suffer from anxiety and other mental illnesses will seek help,” Carabeo added.
Carabeo, a pediatrician, is serving her first term in the House of Representatives as the first Latina to represent the Centennial State.
She faces an uphill battle for reelection this fall as Republicans target her seat in the state’s 8th Congressional District as an opportunity to flip. She was one of five House Democrats the House Republican campaign organization attacked with mobile billboards outside the Democratic National Convention last week.
She is the latest lawmaker to speak publicly about her mental health struggles, along with Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania), who checked into Walter Reed Hospital last year for treatment for criminal depression.
Vice President Harris, who is also the Democratic presidential nominee, praised Caraveo’s statement on Monday.
“Your courage reminds us all that we are not alone, and together we will continue to fight to ensure that all Americans have access to mental health care and support,” Harris said. I wrote to X Monday.
