US to take steps to curb antidepressant prescribing, RFK Jr says

Key Points:

• The US Department of Health and Human Services, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced plans to reduce antidepressant use, emphasizing deprescribing and promoting non-medication treatments like psychotherapy and lifestyle changes.
• Kennedy stated psychiatric medications will no longer be treated as the default treatment for mental health conditions, advocating for transparency and clear plans to discontinue them when appropriate, while assuring current users should not stop without proper guidance.
• A 2025 survey found nearly 17% of US adults use antidepressants, with significant opposition nationwide to restricting access, prompting the department to focus on addressing overuse, especially among children.
• The American Psychiatric Association supports increased research and clinician training but criticized the administration’s framing of the mental health crisis as primarily an overprescribing issue, highlighting access barriers, workforce shortages, and the need for individualized care.
• The department provided guidance and resources for mental health practitioners on deprescribing and confirmed they can be reimbursed for care involved in safely reducing psychiatric medications.