RFK Jr. Announces Campaign to Curb SSRI Overprescribing

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a federal campaign Monday aimed at reducing the overprescribing of psychiatric medications, particularly antidepressants, during a summit on mental health hosted by the Make America Healthy Again Institute in Washington.

Kennedy emphasized that the initiatives would promote patient autonomy, informed consent and shared decision-making between providers and patients. "Today, we take clear and decisive action to confront our nation's mental health crisis by addressing the overuse of psychiatric medications, especially among children," he said. The effort targets selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, such as Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil and Lexapro, which are commonly prescribed for depression, anxiety and other conditions. About 16.6 percent of U.S. adults, or one in six, reported taking an SSRI in 2026.

The secretary clarified that the campaign does not instruct doctors or patients to immediately stop medications. "If you are taking psychiatric medication, we are not telling you to stop," Kennedy said. "We are making sure you and your clinician have the information and support to make the right decision for...