Patrick J. Kennedy (born July 14, 1967) is an American former Democratic Congressman who served as the U.S. Representative for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district from 1995 to 2011. The son of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, he served eight terms in the House of Representatives and became a leading advocate for mental health reform. He is known for his public struggle with bipolar disorder and addiction, which inspired his legislative work on mental health parity laws.
