Mental health isn't the issue - stigma is

[Star Tribune, December 29, 2009] Many politicians have overcome admissions of addiction or depression, thanks to better understanding of the manageable diseases. Can Dayton, too?

There was a time when the public admission of mental illness could derail a candidate's political career.

That could still happen to Mark Dayton, the Democratic candidate for governor who went public this week with his history of depression. But if so, experts say, it's the stigma -- not the disease itself -- that would sabotage his run for office.

Psychiatrist Paul Goering, executive medical director of Allina Mental Health was interviewed for this story. Read more at startribune.com .