United States Senator John Fetterman has voluntarily checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to seek medical help against depression. 

The first-term Pennsylvania senator was admitted to hospital last week after feeling light-headed, an incident that weighed heavily on his recent stroke challenges, prompting him to seek “physical and emotional” help at the hospital.

Mr Fetterman’s office issued a statement through his chief of staff, Adam Jentleson, stating that the senator had battled depression at various stages of his life, with a severe strain in recent weeks.

“While John has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks,” Mr Jentleson said. “John agreed, and he is receiving treatment on a voluntary basis,” he added. 

Mr Fetterman since entering the senate last month has had a tough time adjusting to his new office owing to the psychological effects of dealing with a life-threatening stroke last year.