When one family member suffers from a chronic illness, the entire family is affected. The same is certainly true of mental illness.
Credit Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff for setting aside his own political ambitions to attend to a daughter struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. Danielle Shurtleff, 17, recently entered a treatment facility. Her family's participation is an integral part of her therapy plan. So Shurtleff announced Wednesday that he is shelving his run for Senate, which is admirable.
Shurtleff, who carefully considered his daughter's condition when deciding whether to enter the race for the Republican nomination against incumbent Republican Sen. Bob Bennett, said at the time of his announcement that his family believed his daughter's illness was under control. Recently, however, she began to spiral into self-destructive behavior that required more intensive help. There weren't enough hours in the day to attend to his family's needs, serve as attorney general and engage in a highly competitive campaign for Senate. "I think one thing Utahns can really understand is family," Shurtleff told the Deseret News. He's right.
In recent years, Shurtleff has juggled many responsibilities as a father and spouse, attorney general and author of a newly published historical novel, "Am I Not a Man, the Dred Scott Story," about the famous slave who sued for freedom. In 2007, Shurtleff was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident that occurred while he was practicing for a charity motorcycle ride to raise money for a memorial for slain police officers. He underwent 11 surgeries to save his shattered leg. During his recovery, he overcame two staph infections.
He and his wife, M'Liss, parents of six children, launched his Senate campaign in May. At the time, three teenage children were living at home.
But his wife supported his decision, noting that running for Senate was Shurtleff's long-time dream. In announcing his campaign, Shurtleff tearfully acknowledged the sacrifices of his family, saying, "They surely sacrificed a great deal to share me with you."
On Wednesday, Shurtleff set aside his campaign to support his daughter and other family members. Not only is it the best decision for Danielle, publicly sharing the family's struggles provides another occasion for Utahns to learn more about mental illness. It can affect any person in any family. But with proper treatment and management, there is hope.
We thank the Shurtleffs for this lesson, and we join all Utahns in wishing them well during this very difficult trial.