Stop RFK Jr.’s Attack on Antidepressants – Mental Health is Not a Crime

The Issue

Sign this petition to demand that medical and advocacy organizations publicly refute Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s dangerous misinformation and prevent harmful policies that would limit access to mental health care.

What’s Happening?

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., recently confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services, has made several false and dangerous claims about antidepressants and mental health treatment:

  • Antidepressants and Addiction: Kennedy has claimed that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are "addictive," comparing their withdrawal symptoms to those of heroin. (Vanity Fair)
  • Link to Violence: He has suggested a connection between SSRIs and violent behaviors, including school shootings—despite a complete lack of scientific evidence supporting this claim. (The Cut)
  • "Wellness Farms" Proposal: Kennedy proposes establishing “wellness farms” in rural areas where individuals prescribed SSRIs, benzodiazepines, and Adderall would be sent to recover without modern technology—effectively forcing them into state-sanctioned institutionalization. (The Independent)

Why This Is Dangerous

These claims are scientifically false, politically motivated, and deeply harmful to millions of Americans who rely on these medications to manage depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other conditions.

  • Antidepressants are NOT addictive. While some people experience discontinuation symptoms if they stop abruptly, this is not the same as addiction, which involves compulsive cravings and reinforcement behaviors.
  • There is NO evidence that SSRIs cause violence. In fact, properly treated mental illness reduces the risk of harm to oneself or others.
  • Kennedy’s “wellness farms” are forced institutionalization under a different name. This proposal strips people of autonomy, removes them from their support networks, and subjects them to untested and unregulated treatment conditions.

Our Demands

We call on leading medical, advocacy, and policy organizations to take immediate action to:

  1. Publicly refute RFK Jr.’s false claims through an official statement.
  2. Advocate against any federal action that would restrict access to antidepressants based on misinformation.
  3. Educate policymakers and the public on the importance of mental health treatment and the dangers of politicizing medicine.

Who We’re Calling On

  • American Psychiatric Association (APA) – apa@psych.org
  • American Medical Association (AMA) – grassroots@ama-assn.org
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – info@nami.org
  • American Psychological Association (APA) – public.affairs@apa.org
  • Mental Health America (MHA) – info@mhanational.org
  • American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) – contactcenter@aafp.org
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) – Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics – sodbp@aap.org
  • American College of Physicians (ACP) – policy-development@acponline.org
  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) – nimhinfo@nih.gov
  • House and Senate Committees on Health Policy (Senate HELP & House Energy and Commerce)

Sign & Share

RFK Jr.’s misinformation is not just dangerous—it’s an attack on the fundamental right to mental health care. We must speak out before policies are enacted that harm millions.

Sign this petition now and share it widely to ensure our voices are heard, our rights are protected, and the truth prevails.

avatar of the starter
Taed PricePetition StarterSingle gay progressive Christian dad. IT specialist, musician, liturgist, and community advocate. Deeply sarcastic, unapologetically nerdy, and probably running on caffeine. Passionate about equality, human rights, education, music, and culture.

933

The Issue

Sign this petition to demand that medical and advocacy organizations publicly refute Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s dangerous misinformation and prevent harmful policies that would limit access to mental health care.

What’s Happening?

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., recently confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services, has made several false and dangerous claims about antidepressants and mental health treatment:

  • Antidepressants and Addiction: Kennedy has claimed that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are "addictive," comparing their withdrawal symptoms to those of heroin. (Vanity Fair)
  • Link to Violence: He has suggested a connection between SSRIs and violent behaviors, including school shootings—despite a complete lack of scientific evidence supporting this claim. (The Cut)
  • "Wellness Farms" Proposal: Kennedy proposes establishing “wellness farms” in rural areas where individuals prescribed SSRIs, benzodiazepines, and Adderall would be sent to recover without modern technology—effectively forcing them into state-sanctioned institutionalization. (The Independent)

Why This Is Dangerous

These claims are scientifically false, politically motivated, and deeply harmful to millions of Americans who rely on these medications to manage depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other conditions.

  • Antidepressants are NOT addictive. While some people experience discontinuation symptoms if they stop abruptly, this is not the same as addiction, which involves compulsive cravings and reinforcement behaviors.
  • There is NO evidence that SSRIs cause violence. In fact, properly treated mental illness reduces the risk of harm to oneself or others.
  • Kennedy’s “wellness farms” are forced institutionalization under a different name. This proposal strips people of autonomy, removes them from their support networks, and subjects them to untested and unregulated treatment conditions.

Our Demands

We call on leading medical, advocacy, and policy organizations to take immediate action to:

  1. Publicly refute RFK Jr.’s false claims through an official statement.
  2. Advocate against any federal action that would restrict access to antidepressants based on misinformation.
  3. Educate policymakers and the public on the importance of mental health treatment and the dangers of politicizing medicine.

Who We’re Calling On

  • American Psychiatric Association (APA) – apa@psych.org
  • American Medical Association (AMA) – grassroots@ama-assn.org
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – info@nami.org
  • American Psychological Association (APA) – public.affairs@apa.org
  • Mental Health America (MHA) – info@mhanational.org
  • American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) – contactcenter@aafp.org
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) – Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics – sodbp@aap.org
  • American College of Physicians (ACP) – policy-development@acponline.org
  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) – nimhinfo@nih.gov
  • House and Senate Committees on Health Policy (Senate HELP & House Energy and Commerce)

Sign & Share

RFK Jr.’s misinformation is not just dangerous—it’s an attack on the fundamental right to mental health care. We must speak out before policies are enacted that harm millions.

Sign this petition now and share it widely to ensure our voices are heard, our rights are protected, and the truth prevails.

avatar of the starter
Taed PricePetition StarterSingle gay progressive Christian dad. IT specialist, musician, liturgist, and community advocate. Deeply sarcastic, unapologetically nerdy, and probably running on caffeine. Passionate about equality, human rights, education, music, and culture.
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