reporter: tom whey len has written books about the family. >> i think for a historian like myself. this is going to be a bountiful crop to harvest because if the kennedys are opening up being honest about what actually happened i think some things might be rewritten about history. reporter: mental health professionals say what kennedy is doing is critical in fact mcclain hospital is honoring him with the annual mcclain award this year for his work advocating mental health issues. >> this is a disease that doesn't target certain population. reporter: mcclain psychiatrist says coming cleaning about addiction is healthy. >> it is a great example of giving courage to the people who are afraid to come out to seek treatment. reporter: treatment patrick kennedy says gave him his life back and at the cost of breaking his family's code of silence he says it was worth it kristina haeger web site news. >>> this is a shocking development for the new york yan he's on eve of the baseball playoffs. one of their starting pitchers has begun treatment for addiction to alcohol. c. c. sabathia is chec