Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled initiatives Monday to curb overprescribing of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most common antidepressants. The policies include clinician training programs, revised reimbursement rules for deprescribing support, and updated guidelines emphasizing nonpharmacological therapies like exercise and nutrition. 16.6% of U.S. adults—roughly one in six—currently use SSRIs, with many reporting withdrawal symptoms like brain zaps and emotional blunting when discontinuing use.

Kennedy framed the effort as correcting a systemic overreliance on medication, citing anecdotal accounts of patients struggling to taper off drugs. MAHA Institute, a nonprofit focused on mental health reform, co-hosted the summit where Kennedy announced the measures, urging providers to prioritize informed consent and shared decision-making.