RFK Jr. unveils campaign for 'deprescribing' antidepressants

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

05/05/26 2:05 PM ET


Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday announced his new initiative boost “deprescribing” psychiatric medications, during a Make America Healthy Again Institute summit on mental health and overmedicalization. “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,” Kennedy said.

“We will support patient autonomy, require informed consent and shared decision-making, and shift the standard of care toward prevention, transparency and a more holistic approach to mental health,” he added. As part of the initiative, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will issue a report on prescribing trends. In a “Dear Colleague” letter on Monday, top officials within the HHS wrote that psychiatric medications “should not be understood as the only treatment option.”

Kennedy has previously criticized psychiatric medications, suggesting in the past that Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors could be linked to school shootings. The HHS secretary also claimed these medications are more addictive than heroin, despite evidence to the contrary. Kennedy himself is a recovering heroin addict.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16.5 percent of adults in 2020 were taking psychiatric medications for their mental health. The American Psychiatric Association (APA), which represents more than 40,000 members involved in psychiatric care and research, signaled on Monday it was receptive to the spirit of Kennedy’s initiative but pushed back on how it characterized mental healthcare.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5863973-kennedy-deprescribing-psychiatric-meds/

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[Irish_Dem]

1. The shortage of mental health professionals will get worse now.

[ananda]

24. Do you think suicide, homelessness, and crime will increase?

???

[Irish_Dem]

25. Yes

I was a practicing therapist before modern antidepressants were in use.

I remember what it was like.

[ananda]

26. As if people weren't stressed enough already.

What sad days we live in now.

[Chasstev365]

2. For 20 + years I have take a low dose of an antidepressant.

It has worked at handing my stress, anxiety, and depression as well as insulin works for a diabetic. I am not ashamed to be on it!

But moreover, RFK.Jr. is not a medical professional and has views of a quack. Who the fuck is he to make pronouncements over something he knows nothing about?

[efhmc]

3. Thanks for sharing this information. I wonder how many Americans this shift in medicine will harm.

[Martin68]

27. I took a low dose antidepressant for 15 years, and then I discontinued it. It helped me develop coping mechanisms, and

when I no longer need it, I gradually decreased the dosage under my doctors guidance. I believe it was a life saver for me and my wife.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

33. He may not be a doctor, but ...

But moreover, RFK.Jr. is not a medical professional and has views of a quack. Who the fuck is he to make pronouncements over something he knows nothing about?

But he saw some really interesting videos on TikTok that are full of numbers proving him right!

So it must be true.

I keep hoping age brings wisdom to avoid the traps of the internet crap. But the current administration is a vivid illustration that I am mistaken and things are getting worse.

SIGH

[TexasBushwhacker]

4. Gee Bobby, maybe if you had taken antidepressants

you wouldn't have turned to heroin and cocaine!

[Oneironaut]

5. Sunshine, energy bracelets, healing crystals, homeopathic pills

And who could forget, ivermectin!

[TommyT139]

15. But HRT only for non trans gender confirmation!

[Jacson6]

6. Does RFK, Jr. have a picture of anti-psych L. Ron Hubbard in his office?

We don't need a politico trying to prescribe medications to the mentally ill.

[ret5hd]

9. gmta

[Alice Kramden]

7. This guy is a menace

Brainworm should confine himself to his preferred activities that only harm him personally, which are well documented, and stop undermining American healthcare

[ret5hd]

8. i just now figured it out...he's a scientologist.

[LisaL]

11. He is a man whose brain was partially eaten by a worm.

Who knows what's left in there.

[ret5hd]

13. a scientologist.

[TommyT139]

20. I thought you were kidding, but...

...Holy crap.

https://tonyortega.substack.com/p/rfk-jrs-ties-to-scientologys-sordid

It will be interesting to see if there is any public reaction from those quarters to the trumpist support for Monsanto/Roundup.

[Bayard]

10. He's the biggest psycho in town,

And he's trying to tell the rest of us to get off our meds? Mind your own damn business! I prefer to stay alive. If I need medical advice from a non-doctor, I'll talk to my dogs.

[LisaL]

12. Add to that, this "genius" admitted to snorting cocaine of

toilet seats. Cocaine good, legit meds bad? All righty then.

[Solly Mack]

14. Using Americans as test subjects to spread his insanity.

[Princess Turandot]

16. What's next? Anti-psychotics?

We need a few more UniBombers in our lives!

[Maraya1969]

17. These medications saved my life.

panic attacks and terrifying intrusive thoughts that got stuck in my head and wouldn't leave. And this was way back in 1975 so the medications were not that advanced.

But after a long time I was finally put on an MAO inhibitor and after a week or so everything just lifted. It was fabulous. And these drugs can be dangerous but for me they saved my life. It was the first time in years that I felt any relief.

And this dickhead wants to take that away?

[LisaL]

18. It's an upside down world.

A guy who admitted to snorting cocaine of toilet seats is in charge of our healthcare and wants to prevent people from using legally prescribed medications. Thanks to MAGATS who got us into this situation.

[csusan]

19. I too take antidepressant

I was never diagnosed as a child. Back in the late 50s thru 60s. I struggled through out school. There was no diagnosing back then. I now know I had an anxiety disorder and stress.
I have tried many ways to deal with it. Self medicating through college with pot.
As an adult,I spent years in individual therapy, tried biofeedback, alanon and yoga. I tried a number of natural amd holistic treatments The thing that helped the most was medication. It has been a life saver for me. I still do yoga but ot never fixed my anxiety disorder
Some people need medication.

[Deep State Witch]

21. I Need My Antidepressants

Because living through the Trump administration is making me crazy.

[angryxyouth]

22. He is so fucking dangerous

I guess he hasn’t killed enough people by convincing them not to immunize themselves for the measles, plus the other things that will lead to people dying as his party make health insurance to expensive for a great part of the population. Privileged fucking asshole.

[mdbl]

23. The clown show continues.

[Figarosmom]

28. Isn't it when they stop taking their meds

The trouble starts? So he wants more people out there off their meds?

[bmichaelh]

29. RFK Jr is not to be trusted

Do not care what that idiot says; I will not believe him.

Some antidepressants are used for other purposes.

I was prescribed an antidepressant when I went undergoing chemotherapy.

Also, unless he is planning to implement a second prohibition; he will not ban it altogether.

There are stories that RFK Jr would meet strangers in an airport try to talk to them not to use vaccines for their children.

[Grins]

30. Sez' the man who took "psychiatric medications" for almost 30 years...

Off the street. Not via an Rx…

[angrychair]

31. I'm not taking drug advice

From a heroin addict that cuts the dicks off of dead racoons.

[generalbetrayus]

32. In a "Dear Colleague" letter on Monday, top officials within the HHS wrote that psychiatric medications "should not be

understood as the only treatment option.”

Gee, RFK Jr. has never heard of psychotherapy? Bite my crank, brain worm, boy!

After years of unsuccessfully dealing with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea pretty much on my own, I went to my general practitioner for something to treat the major anxiety the IBS was causing me. He prescribed Paxil, and lo and behold, the IBS started to go away. When next I saw my gastroenterologist, he told me that an antianxiety medication was what he would have put me on next.

[Skittles]

34. he's the LAST person who should be advising about mental health

OK, maybe the SECOND to last person