Overview

• On Fox News, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the NIH is launching studies into whether SSRIs and other psychiatric medications might contribute to violence, referencing black box warnings and patient privacy rules.
• Pressed by Sen. Tina Smith on Capitol Hill, Kennedy denied blaming the Minneapolis church school shooting on antidepressants and accused her of twisting his comments.
• Smith cited his Fox appearance in the days following the Annunciation Catholic School attack in Minneapolis, where two children were killed and more than a dozen people were injured.
• An MSNBC opinion by medical and policy experts stated that decades of research have found no direct causal link between antidepressants and violent behavior, particularly in adults.
• Critics argue Kennedy’s remarks mislead the public and could increase stigma that discourages people from seeking mental health care.