Beyond the Operating Room: Leonard’s Journey With Depression

For Leonard, a retired vascular surgeon, mental health is more than a topic of conversation—it’s personal. After years of struggling with depression, he now shares his story to help others understand the realities of mental health and the importance of seeking support.

“I hope that my fall from Ivy League grace can resonate and spread this message,” Leonard explains.

Living With and Facing Depression

For a long time, Leonard attributed his low moods to stress, long hours, and professional pressure. He recalls, “I always chalked it up to, ‘Oh, I’m just tired from work, I’m stressed about patients.’”

It wasn’t until persistent hopelessness and suicidal thoughts set in that Leonard realized something deeper was happening. He describes feeling as if he was surrounded by “a black envelope”—a heavy darkness that stayed with him even in daylight.

Eventually, Leonard reached out for professional help and began treatment with a psychiatrist. Medication and ongoing cognitive behavioral therapy have been essential parts of his recovery.

“Taking away the main stressor, which I thought was the practice of medicine, didn’t immediately fix me,” he reflects. “But I have a lot of tools now to address what I understand is going on inside my head.”

Speaking Out To Help Others

Today, Leonard channels his experience into writing and speaking. He hopes that by being open about his struggles, he can challenge stigma within medicine and society at large.

“I’ve been praised for how open and courageous I am about speaking out,” Leonard says. “It’s easy to be open and courageous when you got nothing left. There’s no reason for shame anymore.”

While he no longer practices surgery, Leonard’s commitment to helping others remains at the heart of his work. “I am not a psychiatrist, I am not a therapist,” he says. “But I am a survivor and a storyteller.”