Reps. Salinas, Balint Lead Lawmakers Demanding Answers from HHS on Reported Plan to “Deprescribe” Psychiatric Medications

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Becca Balint (VT-AL) led a group of 14 lawmakers in sending a letter to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), expressing opposition to the agency's reported plans to promote the "deprescribing" of psychiatric medications.

The lawmakers warn that Secretary Kennedy's campaign to "deprescribe" psychiatric medications undermines access to evidence-based mental health care for patients who rely on psychiatric medications. They urge the administration to ensure that any guidance remains grounded in science and centered on patient safety.

"The decision for a patient to stop taking an SSRI should be between the patient and their doctor. End of story," said Rep. Salinas, Co-Chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus. "SSRIs and other psychiatric medications are life-sustaining care for millions of Americans, and any federal guidance on mental health treatment must be rooted in science, not stigma, ideology, or one man's personal experience. Secretary Kennedy's approach risks confusing patients, undermining trust in public health, and disrupting care for people who need support. HHS must clarify its plans, protect access to evidence-based treatment, and ensure these deeply personal decisions remain between patients and their doctors."

"Secretary Kennedy's attacks on psychiatric medications are dangerous and wrong," said Rep. Balint. "Mental health care is health care. People deserve access to treatment that's grounded in science and guided by their doctors - not by the Secretary's personal opinions, politics, stigma, or misinformation."

"We write with serious concern and vehement opposition to your stated intent to promote 'deprescribing' of psychiatric medications to reduce what you have mischaracterized as an overuse of antidepressants," the letter states.

They emphasized that psychiatric medications, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro, are some of the leading treatments for depression and anxiety and are approved for psychological treatment by leading medical organizations.

"Psychiatric medications like antidepressants and other evidence-based treatments are, for many Americans, not 'optional interventions.' These treatments are essential, life-sustaining care," the lawmakers wrote.

The letter challenges recent public statements Sec. Kennedy has made that encourage medication tapering, which undermines trust in public health guidance and can harm patients' health and safety. Efforts to "deprescribe" psychiatric medicines creates confusion among patients, increases stigma around mental health, and disrupts treatment that is critical for those with mental and behavioral health issues.

"These are unequivocally false and destructive claims, and they undermine trust in our nation's public health institutions," the letter states.

"Encouraging Americans to 'deprescribe' risks patients abruptly stopping their medication, which can cause relapse, withdrawal complications, or increased suicide risk," they wrote.

The members urged HHS to focus on reforming structural challenges in mental health care to improve treatment access, instead of oversimplifying our nation's mental health crisis by solely emphasizing medication reduction.

"The Health and Human Services Department should focus on the systemic drivers of our nation's mental health crisis, which are persistent barriers to care, workforce shortages, and unaffordable access to comprehensive treatment," the letter reads.

Lawmakers asked HHS to detail safeguards for patients, including protections against inappropriate pressure to discontinue treatment and assurances that clinical decisions remain between patients and providers.

They concluded by calling for transparency and collaboration with clinicians, patients, and Congress to ensure continued access to mental health care.

"I urge the administration to clarify its approach and work with clinicians, patients, and Congress to ensure that all Americans have access to the mental health care that they need," the lawmakers wrote.

Representatives Balint and Salinas were joined by signers Representatives Beyer (VA-08), Cleaver (MO-05), Elfreth (MD-03), Garcia (CA-42), Goldman (NY-10), Kelly (IL-02), Moulton (MA-06), Ramirez (IL-03), Thanedar (MI-13), Tlaib (MI-12), Tonko(NY-20), Underwood (IL-14), Velazquez (NY-07), Watson Coleman (NY-12).

The full text of the letter can be viewed here.