In a recent interview on Fox, Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr, our nation’s Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), appeared to blame the recent tragic shooting at a Catholic school in Minnesota on antidepressants.

Kennedy commented that these medications “have black box warnings that warn of suicidal ideation and homicidal ideation, so we can’t exclude those as a culprit.” First a truth, then a lie.

The Black Box Warning on every antidepressant prescription does warn about the rare potential of increased suicidality in children and young adults early on in treatment. More information on this below.

Of note, there are no warnings anywhere linking antidepressants to homicidal ideation or violence. This warning does not exist because there is no data to support the concern.

RFK's position as HHS Secretary is historically held by an individual who is fact-based and data-driven. When dealing with issues of health, it is critically important to be able to interpret information, to discern what data is notable and what is noise.

RFK's dangerous comment linking antidepressants and violence is conjecture. Because his title carries authority, this falsehood may cause families of children on antidepressants to worry or withdraw needed treatment.

An actual review of how the black box warning originated is reassuring.

In 2003, the British equivalent of the FDA became worried about emotional volatility and suicidal behavior in children prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Data showed that emotional lability occurred at 2-3.5% while on paroxetine (an SSRI no longer commonly prescribed) and at 1-2% with

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