"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," said Secretary Kennedy. "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."

HHS agencies are bringing together their collective expertise and aligning to evaluate prescription patterns for psychiatric medications, their benefits and potential harms, and elevate the role of nonmedication treatments and scalable, evidence-based solutions to improve mental health.

Through a multipronged approach including education and outreach, program and policy actions, and research-to-practice efforts, HHS is working to prevent the unnecessary initiation of psychiatric medications and support the tapering and discontinuation for patients not experiencing clinical benefit.

In a Dear Colleague Letter [PDF] published today, HHS encourages providers to prioritize informed consent and shared decision-making, and to regularly review the risks and benefits of psychiatric medications with patients. The letter highlights nonmedication approaches, such as family support, psychotherapy, nutrition, and physical activity when clinically appropriate. Providers can also find information in the letter on billing codes that can be used to support the delivery of evidence-based nonmedication treatments.

In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance for physicians and other practitioners on the importance of deprescribing and related medical care. This guidance clarifies how physicians and other practitioners can be paid for this type of care under Medicare, and also directs clinicians to widely recognized resources for deprescribing, including professional society guidelines, peer-reviewed deprescribing protocols, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) instructions for taper schedules.

Upcoming Activities

Education and Outreach

• This month, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will issue a report on prescribing trends to inform efforts to reduce inappropriate prescribing, while maintaining access, along with a fact sheet for prescribers and patients.
• Throughout June and July, SAMHSA will host educational webinars for prescribers and other health professionals to increase awareness of the side effects of psychiatric medications, and approaches for deprescribing, as well as evidence-based nonmedication treatments.
• This summer, SAMHSA and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will host a joint webinar for Federally Qualified Health Center providers focused on holistic care, including nonmedication treatments, and deprescribing and tapering of psychiatric medications when clinically indicated.
• In July, HHS will convene a Technical Expert Panel to gather input from health professionals, patients and family, government agencies, and professional societies to inform the development of formal HHS clinical guidance on the appropriate use of psychiatric medications and tapering and discontinuation.

Program and Policy

• HHS agencies will support clinical practice and patient care change through grant activities by supporting child-specific training for frontline prescribers focused on assessment, treatment planning, and referral decision-making, while also increasing access to timely specialist consultation and same-day consultations.
• CMS will work to expand access to evidence-based non-medication care, reduce overreliance on psychiatric medications, and simplify coverage to ensure timely access to evidence-based psychotherapy and family support services for children and adolescents.

Research-to-Practice Initiatives

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and FDA are expediting research into new, innovative treatments for mental health conditions.

This action plan is a unified and comprehensive approach to return to gold-standard science and ensure that children and adults struggling with mental health challenges are equipped with the right information to make informed treatment decisions and get the support they need. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. To locate a treatment facility or provider, visit FindTreatment.gov.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Americans Split On Pastors Using AI, Skeptical It Can Help With Understanding the Bible

Daughters of the American Revolution to Vote on Definition of 'Woman' amid Criticism of Transgender Policy

FYI: These 568 Companies Are Paying to Trans Kids. A Nationwide Campaign Demands They Stop

'They Paid Me to Vote': Homeless Residents Make Explosive Claims after Spencer Pratt's Loss [Video]

America Becomes India's Top Gas Supplier amid Strait of Hormuz Conflict

Netanyahu: 'Iran Will Not Have Nuclear Weapons'

'Fauci, Biden Admin Lied to American People': DNI Gabbard Reveals Evidence of US Taxpayer-Funded Global Biolab Program

Human Trafficking Update: Feds Identify 15,500 Sponsors of Multiple Unaccompanied Kids

Ainsley Earhardt Celebrates America; Reveals Supernatural Experience That Strengthened Her Faith [Video]

Melania Trump Launches First-of-Its-Kind Foster Youth Accounts to Give Children Asset Ownership

Changing Tide: Record-low 38% of Americans Support 'Gender Transitions' - Gallup Poll

4 States Offering Pride Month Alternatives That Celebrate Family

PRO-LIFE WIN: Trump Admin Moves to Remedy Downfall of IVF

Karmelo Anthony Claims He's 'Penniless,' Can't Afford Lawyer for Appeal, Despite Pocketing $625,000, after Murder Conviction

Trump Says US Snuck 22 Oil Ships Past Iran in Covert Op, US Strikes Regime 2 Nights in a Row

Memphis Safe Task Force Surpasses 10,000 Arrests, Locates 154 Missing Children and Removes over 1,700 Firearms from City Streets

President Trump Signs $70 Billion Border Security, ICE Funding Bill that Includes Funding to Combat Child Trafficking

Report: Parents Remain Essential to Instilling Authentic Faith in Next Generation

Who Is Counseling Our Children?

Supreme Court Vacates Biden-Era Decision Outlawing Gas Stoves, Water Heaters