According to a statement from a representative of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., he is back home in his house in Washington after being treated for depression.
‘‘He’s at home in Washington convalescing with his wife and children,’’ his aide Rick Bryant said. ‘‘Let’s hope he returns to work on Monday.’’
After a summer break, Congress will be back in session on Monday September 10. Bryant has stated that he’s uncertain when Jackson was discharged from the Mayo Clinic, which is refusing to answer any questions about Jackson.
Jackson’s wife Sandi made a statement on Friday, September 7, where she stated that she and her husband were ‘‘thankful for the heartfelt prayers and kind thoughts from so many for our family.’’
Jackson’s story began after he went on a secret medical leave back in June after collapsing at his house. By August, it was reported that he was receiving treatment for depression at the Mayo Clinic. At that time, it was announced that he was receiving treatment for bipolar II disorder. Jackson has received a good deal of support from many people in his life, including former Rhode Island U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, who has also suffered from bipolar disorder. Kennedy visited Jackson at the Mayo clinic in August and stated that the current congressman has ‘‘a lot of work’’ ahead of him while he tries to recover.
Jackson won his congressional spot in 1995, and is hoping to become a U.S. senator or mayor of Chicago, but accusations of Jackson’s links to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (who currently is in prison for corruption) could dampen his efforts. For this reason, Jackson’s medical condition has undergone much scrutiny by those who question whether the timing is too coincidental. Right now, the House Ethics Committee is investigating allegations that Jackson had talked about helping to raise money for Blagojevich’s campaign. The purpose of this was so that the then-Illinois governor would appoint Jackson to the President’s empty senate chair. It was right after a fundraiser — which was connected to the accusations — that Jackson’s medical leave was announced. For now, Jackson has not been charged of any wrongdoing.
Specifics of Jackson’s depression treatment have not been announced to the public, but popular antidepressants like Paxil and Effexor are often used. Both Paxil and Effexor have been known to cause not only suicidal thoughts and behavior, but also violent thoughts and behavior. The pills can also cause babies born to women who take the drug while pregnant to be born with birth defects including PPHN, oral clefts, spina bifida and heart, lung and brain defects.
