Home / Health / Senator Fetterman Recovers from Fall, Addresses Mental Health Struggles
Senator Fetterman Recovers from Fall, Addresses Mental Health Struggles
17 Nov
Summary
- Senator Fetterman hospitalized after fall during morning walk
- Suffered 20 stitches and a defibrillator-equipped pacemaker
- Acknowledged toll of 2022 campaign on his mental health
On November 16, 2025, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman returned home from a Pittsburgh hospital after being treated for a fall during a morning walk the previous week. The incident left Fetterman with a jagged cut stretching from above his right eye, across his forehead, and down onto his nose, requiring 20 stitches.
Fetterman, a Democrat, has faced a series of health challenges since his 2022 Senate campaign. In that race, he suffered a near-fatal stroke, which led to him being fitted with a defibrillator-equipped pacemaker. His speech on the campaign trail was noticeably slower and more deliberate, and he struggled to answer questions during a debate with his opponent, Mehmet Oz.
After the election, Fetterman acknowledged the toll the campaign had taken on his physical and mental health. Earlier this year, he checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Center to be treated for clinical depression. Some of his staff members had also expressed concerns about his fitness to serve in the Senate, citing reckless behavior and volatile episodes.
