Rep. Yadira Carabeo has privately struggled with depression since her teenage years, but is now speaking out publicly about it after her condition worsened during her first term in Congress.
“Over the last year or two, my depression has gotten worse and I’ve had to get treatment, including being admitted to Walter Reed,” she told CPR News, “and now I have access to great doctors, a great medical team, and I’m in a place where I can talk about this.”
Caraveo, who was a pediatrician before being elected to Congress, added, “I think the depression I suffer from and my drive to care for others, mixed with the frustrations of my new job and everything that’s going on in Washington, D.C., led to feelings of hopelessness and dark thoughts. And when I got into that dark place, I decided I needed the right treatment, and I was able to get it.”
In the spring, Caraveo was admitted to the neuropsychiatry program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Caraveo, who had never missed a vote during her time as a senator, was absent the week of April 15. Her spokesman told CPR News at the time that she was “dealing with personal issues.”
Carabeo returned to the chamber on crutches on Saturday, April 20, to vote for the foreign aid package.
“I was having a lot of issues, including a broken leg, and it got worse, which is what prompted me to seek treatment,” she said. Caraveo added that she had been experiencing changes in her sleep, mood and energy, “and I finally realized it wasn’t just due to my new job or my new environment.”
Prior to her hospitalization, her depression had recurred multiple times, causing her to miss several events, and at one point this spring she traveled to Colorado for treatment.
Carabeo said she eventually recognized she needed help from her family, her coworkers and herself. She said House Democrats knew she had been seeking treatment for depression and had been very supportive of her.
When asked about Rep. Caraveo’s status, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark told CPR News, “She is receiving the care she needs so she can continue to serve her constituents. Mental health care is health care, and our House Democratic family is proud to support Rep. Yadira on this journey.”
Caraveo’s office provided CPR with a statement from the medical director of Walter Reed Hospital’s Neuropsychiatry/TBI Unit, which asserted that the congressman responded well to treatment and noted that approximately 8 percent of U.S. adults suffer from severe depression.
The revelation comes as Carabeo prepares to defend his seat
Caraveo, who won by just over 1,600 votes, faces a tough re-election battle in the state’s only closely contested House seat, where he is expected to face state Rep. Gabe Evans in November.
It’s a contest that could help determine which party will control the House of Representatives in the next Congress.
Asked if he could handle the demands of a campaign that is sure to attract huge amounts of outside money and attention, Caraveo said, “Absolutely. Otherwise I wouldn’t be running.”
Carabeo acknowledged that in addition to finally being in a position to talk openly about his depression, he is now doing so to ensure that it won’t be used against him during the campaign.
“I think a lot of people feel like they can’t talk about this because it affects them for the rest of their life, and I don’t want anyone to do something sneaky like that to use it against me on the campaign trail,” she said, noting that about a third of Coloradans report symptoms of depression or anxiety, “and I don’t want to send the message to my constituents that they should be ashamed of their medical diagnosis.”
Carabeo joins a growing list of lawmakers who have spoken publicly about mental health.
Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York and Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota have both spoken about their histories of depression, while Reps. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts and Ruben Gallego of Arizona, both military veterans, have spoken about their struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Less than two months after taking office, Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman checked himself into Walter Reed Hospital for treatment for depression and spent about six weeks there, his office said in a statement at the time.
Asked why he hadn’t publicly disclosed his treatment sooner, as Fetterman had, Caraveo said his situation was different from that of Fetterman, whose health was already in the national spotlight after he suffered a stroke in the middle of a high-profile Senate campaign.
“When he sought treatment, it was in the spotlight, and I had the advantage of not being in the spotlight at the time,” Carabeo explained, “So I decided to get treatment, and then when I was well enough, I decided to talk about it so that people could relate to my story and learn from it.”
Carabeo added that he is human too: “People from all walks of life struggle with these issues, but you can still achieve your dreams and do what you want in life. You can achieve your goals.”
She added that although her family has been supportive, it took her a while to tell them about her depression: “There’s a stigma around mental illness, especially among Latinos.”
She also hopes that speaking out about her mental health issues will help constituents and others who suffer from anxiety or depression seek help or treatment.
Carabeo, who is still undergoing treatment, said she wants to use her experience to “focus on policies that can help everyone get through dark times in their lives.”
Last year, she introduced bipartisan legislation to establish an agriculture crisis hotline to provide mental health and other support to farmers and ranchers, and in May she introduced a slew of bipartisan bills on mental health issues, from strengthening pediatric mental health workers and youth suicide prevention research to helping Latino youth with mental health issues.
If you need help, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. Colorado Crisis Services To speak with a trained counselor or professional, call the hotline at 1-844-493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255. Counselors are also available at walk-in locations or to chat online.
