Are too many Americans taking antidepressants?

More than 1 in 6 American adults take antidepressants, and debate is growing over whether they’re overused and whether patients can safely stop. The article cites Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who in May 2026 urged doctors to consider “other ways” to treat depression when possible. It notes that over half of antidepressants prescribed are SSRIs, including fluoxetine (Prozac), approved in 1987. The piece argues the decision is often more nuanced than “depression vs. not depression,” warning that screening questionnaires can misclassify mild symptoms as needing medication, while some patients who need care may still be missed.