The Massachusetts representative and presidential candidate revealed that he suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Presidential candidate and Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton opened up about his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder after his time in the U.S. Marine Corps while introducing a plan to expand mental healthcare.
He said it was a very difficult time in his life and if it wasn’t for the treatment he received back then, he wouldn’t be where he is today.
"I had nightmares and things I couldn’t stop thinking about during my time overseas in combat," he said.
Moulton revealed he had PTSD after his tours in Iraq and routinely saw a therapist until he got better. This is the first time — in the modern era — a major party candidate revealed needing mental health treatment.
"I hope it serves as an example to others that there are a lot of people who suffer mental health challenges," he said. "These issues are treatable."
At the Lynn Museum, he introduced a veteran's mental health care proposal. It includes making mental health check-ups routine for active duty military and veterans, funding for yearly mental health screenings for high schoolers and establishing 511 as a national mental health crisis hotline.
"I think it’s time to completely rethink mental health in America," he said. "And to make it as routinely as physical healthcare."
