Rep. Polis tweets about mom’s battle with depression

To aid in her own recovery, Schutz also produced a documentary, “The Misunderstood Epidemic: Depression,” which is airing on PBS around the country.

“As I wrote, I was better able to understand myself, and the documentary helped me understand how other people felt,” Schutz said. 

She considered publishing the book under a pen name but decided it would only add to the stigma of depression. 

“Other diseases don’t have a stigma. If you have diabetes, you get treated and people respect you and ask how you are,” she said. “It’s totally different with depression.”

She hopes her book and documentary can get people talking openly about depression. 

“I want people to know there’s hope to recover,” she said. “It’s really hard work but there is a path.”