Rep. Thomas "Tom" Kean Jr. (R-NJ) announced Tuesday that a diagnosis of depression caused his recent absence from Congress [1].
The disclosure follows weeks of uncertainty regarding the lawmaker's whereabouts. By addressing the health crisis on the House floor, Kean provides a public explanation for a period of missing legislative activity that had drawn scrutiny.
Kean spoke to colleagues and the public in Washington, D.C., and said that he had been struggling with his mental health [2]. The representative said that he had been battling depression and required a period of leave to seek treatment [3].
"I was given the diagnosis of depression," Kean said [1].
According to reports, the absence lasted approximately two months [1]. During this time, the representative was away from his duties on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives [2].
Kean said that the severity of the condition necessitated the break from his professional responsibilities. He returned to his seat on June 30, 2026 [1].
"I was battling depression," Kean said [3].
The announcement marks a rare instance of a sitting member of Congress publicly attributing a prolonged absence to a clinical mental health diagnosis while speaking directly to the House membership [2].
“"I was given the diagnosis of depression."”
The public acknowledgment of a mental health crisis by a sitting member of Congress reflects a shifting cultural approach to healthcare in the federal government. By detailing his diagnosis on the House floor, Kean highlights the intersection of public service and personal health, potentially reducing the stigma associated with mental health treatment for other government officials.
