Patrick Kennedy Checks into Rehab

U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, son of U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, has checked into a treatment facility, reports the Associated Press. Patrick Kennedy has not disclosed the location of the medical facility where he will be treated and has not said what he will treated for. Patrick Kennedy, however. has made no secret of the fact that he has had a lifelong battle with depression, alcoholism and addiction to prescription drugs.

"I have decided to temporarily step away from my normal routine to ensure that I am being as vigilant as possible in my recovery," said Rep. Patrick Kennedy.

In 2006, Patrick Kennedy was admitted to a rehabilitation program at the famed Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. More specifically, he was admitted to the program after crashing his car into a security barrier on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. He later entered a plea agreement on a charge of driving under the influence of prescription drugs and was put on probation for a year.

Patrick Kennedy has been very open about his struggles with alcohol and depression, and has worked to remove the shame and stigma associated with mental illness and drug addiction.

In fact, last October Patrick Kennedy helped pass a bill in Congress that requires insurance companies to view mental illness on an equal footing with physical illness when policies stipulate that both forms of illness are covered.

It is promising to note that, despite the fact that he has been very open and honest about his drug and mental health issues, Patrick Kennedy has been elected to serve in Congress for eight terms. This shows that the stigma associated with mental illness is starting to evaporate.

I can't help but think of Thomas Eagleton, a United States Senator from Missouri who briefly served as George McGovern's running mate during McGovern's bid for the White House in 1972.

Controversy erupted when Thomas Eagleton's medical records were leaked to McGovern. The medical records indicated that Eagleton had manic depression and suicidal tendencies. Initially, McGovern backed Eagleton, but shortly thereafter came to the conclusion that Eagleton's mental health issues would be a distraction and therefore asked him to withdraw from the ticket.

Sources:

Rep. Patrick Kennedy Again Receiving Treatment, The Associated Press

Thomas Eagleton, Wikipedia.org