( CNN ) -- Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is suffering from `` serious depression -- deep , deep depression , '' his longtime friend and former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy told CNN Friday , a day after meeting with Jackson at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester , Minnesota . `` Jesse is getting the help he needs , and he needs to make that his priority , '' Kennedy said about the Illinois Democrat who is undergoing inpatient treatment for bipolar depression at the famed facility . Jackson , 47 , has not been on Capitol Hill since late May . In early June , his office released a statement saying that the congressman , who has served in the U.S. House since 1995 , was taking a leave of absence because he was suffering from a `` medical condition . '' What is bipolar II disorder ? Jackson 's office released a statement last month , attributed to an unidentified doctor , that said the congressman was `` receiving intensive medical treatment at a residential treatment facility for a mood disorder . '' Though exhaustion was initially suspected as the cause of Jackson 's treatment , his father , the Rev . Jesse Jackson , later said the issue was `` something much deeper , much broader , and it lasted much longer . '' `` He is suffering from a behavioral symptom , and that is depression , which does n't allow him to really work to his maximum capacity , '' Kennedy said . Kennedy , who himself has been treated for depression , predicted that Jackson will address his constituents within a couple of weeks `` about what his intentions are as to whether he 's going to continue in public life or whether he is going to continue to focus on his long-term recovery . '' Jackson 's office has remained open for constituent services . Noting that mental illness tends to carry a stigma in the United States , Kennedy said he understood why Jackson had not initially addressed the matter in a public forum . `` The fact that Jesse did n't talk about this as a mental illness early on is reminiscent of most Americans ' experience : if you have a mental illness , you do n't talk about it . '' Clinic : Jackson Jr. has bipolar depression . In addition to sharing a longtime friendship , the two Democrats both hail from high-profile families and both have suffered mental illness . Kennedy , too , underwent treatment at the Mayo Clinic . On Monday , the Rochester , Minnesota-based facility said Jackson was responding well to treatment for bipolar II disorder . The mental illness `` is a treatable condition that affects parts of the brain controlling emotion , thought and drive and is most likely caused by a complex set of genetic and environmental factors , '' the Mayo Clinic said in its statement . Jackson is the son of the famed civil rights leader and represents Illinois ' 2nd Congressional District , which includes parts of Chicago . Kennedy formerly represented Rhode Island and is the son of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy , D-Massachusetts . In addition to struggling openly with addiction , Kennedy has battled bipolar disorder , and has used his public persona to advocate for others with mental illness . He introduced legislation in the House that became law in 2008 forcing insurance companies to cover mental illnesses as if they would physical ailments . Pelosi : Jackson should take all the time he needs . In March , Jackson decisively won a heated primary despite being the subject of an investigation by the House Ethics Committee . The panel has been examining allegations that Jackson or one of his associates offered to raise funds for disgraced former Illinois Gov . Rod Blagojevich in exchange for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama . `` There is no doubt that the stress in his life , particularly because he 's under investigation , clearly perhaps precipitated this , '' Kennedy said . `` Many of us have genetic predispositions to cancer , heart disease or , in this case , mental illness , but they often get triggered by environmental factors . In mental illness , stress is an environmental factor and clearly , I think , has been a factor in his succumbing to this outbreak of his bipolar disorder . '' Blagojevich , convicted on multiple corruption charges , started serving a 14-year prison sentence in March . What do we know about mood disorders ? CNN 's Ashleigh Banfield , Laurie Ure and Allison Brennan contributed to this report .
Former Minnesota Rep. Patrick Kennedy says Jackson ` ` is getting the treatment he needs '' Jackson is a patient at Minnesota 's famed Mayo Clinic . Jackson may announce whether he will stay in office in a couple weeks , Kennedy says . Kennedy says stress ` ` clearly , I think '' played a role in Jackson 's state of mind .