Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled new measures on Monday aimed at curbing the overprescription of antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs. Speaking at the Mental Health and Overmedicalization Summit hosted by the Make America Healthy Again Institute, Kennedy argued that patients often start these medications without full knowledge of risks, long-term use, or safe discontinuation methods.

The initiatives include directing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reimburse clinicians for time spent helping patients deprescribe, such as monitoring withdrawal symptoms and tracking outcomes. HHS will convene a technical expert panel to develop clinical guidelines for tapering psychiatric drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration plans to release training modules this summer on medication risks, proper tapering, and alternatives like therapy, exercise, nutrition, and social support. A "Dear Colleague" letter will urge providers to prioritize non-drug treatments and strengthen informed consent processes.

Kennedy emphasized that the effort is not about forcing anyone to stop medications. "If you are taking psychiatric medication, we are not telling you to stop," he said. "We are making sure you and your clinician have the information and support to make the right decision for you." He drew from personal experience, noting his 14-year heroin addiction was easier to quit than antidepressants for some, including a family member who experienced severe suicidal ideation during withdrawal.

These steps build on the Make America Healthy Again Commission's prior work, including a 2025 report decrying the overmedicalization of children with psychiatric drugs. Antidepressants like SSRIs, Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, are among the most prescribed in the U.S., with 16.6% of adults, or one in six, reporting current use in a 2025 survey. The median treatment duration is five years, though evidence for long-term benefits is limited, and withdrawal can cause symptoms like brain zaps, anxiety, and insomnia.

Medical groups offered mixed reactions. The American Psychiatric Association disputed blanket claims of overprescribing but welcomed focus on individualized care and deprescribing guidelines. "Clinical care is safe and should be individualized for all patients," said Dr. Marketa Wills, the group's CEO. Patient advocates praised the push for better information on discontinuation.

The announcement aligns with growing concerns over psychiatric drug dependence, following patient petitions to the FDA for stronger warnings and recent psychiatrist guidelines on safe tapering.