The Real Antidepressant Crisis
The article examines the controversy surrounding Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s push to reduce the prescription of antidepressants in the U.S. While acknowledging that some overprescribing occurs, the author argues that many patients rely on these medications for essential mental health support.
Why it matters
This debate highlights the tension between government health policy and individual medical needs, particularly regarding the management of mental health conditions.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says Americans overuse SSRIs. In fact, too many people who need depression treatment aren’t getting any.
Illustration by Jonelle Afurong / The Atlantic. Source: Tim Evans / Bloomberg / Getty; YinYang / Getty. July 30, 2026, 3:49 PM ET Share Save Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is vocal about his view that Americans overuse psychiatric medications, particularly antidepressants. As a general rule, the Health and Human Services secretary is skeptical of pharmaceuticals, but he’s gone further in his critiques of SSRIs, suggesting without credible evidence that their use might be linked to violent behavior, including school shootings. This past spring, he announced plans to discourage doctors from prescribing antidepressants and encourage them to de-prescribe the drugs—that is, to help patients who have previously been prescribed SSRIs stop taking them.
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