HHS critical of “overprescribing” psychiatric medications to children

On May 4, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced efforts to “curb psychiatric overprescribing.” The announcement made at a Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Institute summit on mental health and overmedicalization,” was made by closing speaker, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., in particular cited psychiatric medications to children. “Today, we take clear and decisive action to confront our nation's mental health crisis by addressing the overuse of psychiatric medications—especially among children,” he said. “We will support patient autonomy, require informed consent and shared decision‐making, and shift the standard of care toward prevention, transparency, and a more holistic approach to mental health.”