The stigmas of depression

Former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton
Former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton greeted visitors recently as they filed through an Education Minnesota Professional Conference in St. Paul.
MPR Photo/Tim Pugmire

Former U.S. Senator and current DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton revealed this week that he has been dealing with depression throughout his adult life.

Dayton told a Star Tribune columnist he wanted to reassure voters that his 'mild depression' has never been debilitating. But some political analysts are saying his disclosure could easily derail his campaign.

Depression is an intensely personal disease, but the stigmas around it can be as damaging as the condition itself. Dr. Jon Hallberg, ATC's regular medical analyst, came in to talk more about that aspect of depression.

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