Colorado rep shares treatment for depression to ‘de-stigmatize mental illness’

Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.) opened up Monday about her experience with depression, revealing she is seeking treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and wants to “de-stigmatize mental illness.”

Caraveo, in a statement Monday, said she, “like many Americans, struggle with depression,” and the symptoms became “more severe” in recent months.

“As a doctor, I always urge my patients to take care of their health first and receive the support that they need,” she said, adding, “I decided to take my own advice and seek treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center.”

“I’m sharing this today because I believe we need to de-stigmatize mental illness — in Colorado and across our country. It is my hope that the millions of people who struggle with anxiety or any other mental health issues seek help,” Caraveo added.

Caraveo, a pediatrician, is serving her first term in the House as the first Latina elected to represent the Centennial State.

She is facing a potentially tough reelection bid this fall as Republicans have targeted her seat in the state’s 8th Congressional District as a possible flip opportunity. She was one of five House Democrats the House GOP campaign arm went after with a mobile billboard outside the Democratic National Convention last week.

She is the latest lawmaker to open up about her mental health struggles; others include Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), the latter of whom checked himself into Walter Reed last year to receive treatment for clinical depression.

Vice President Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, lauded Caraveo’s statement Monday.

“Your courage reminds people across our nation that they are not alone. Together, we will continue to fight for every American to have access to mental health care and support,” Harris wrote on social platform X Monday.