Lincoln\'s Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President

Mr. Shenk talked with former first lady Rosalynn Carter about his book Lincoln’s Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness, published by Houghton Mifflin. The book looks at President Lincoln’s lifelong battle with depression. The author examines how Lincoln’s struggle with a depression that was seen by his contemporaries as a crucial aspect of his life and character could have contributed to Lincoln’s triumphs. Mr. Shenk discussed the potential of people living with mental illness. They talked about the stigma still associated with depression and how it might be overcome. Mrs. Carter also talked about her efforts to spread awareness of clinical depression and to get legislation passed that will allow treatment to be covered by general medical insurance. Mr. Shenk began his work on President Lincoln’s depression as a Rosalynn Carter Fellow in Mental Health Journalism at the Carter Center. After their conversation they answered audience members' questio close