On February 13, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for the formation of a team to “assess the prevalence of and threat posed by the prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants, and weight-loss drugs.” Social media posts discussed the order across multiple platforms, with many expressing outrage. One post called the executive order “an astonishing denial of science” that “will cause so much pain” to millions of people with a mental health condition. Responses debated whether medications prescribed for mental health conditions are safe and effective.
Recommendation
In light of concerns about the safety of psychiatric medications, communicators may share the types of medications that are prescribed to treat mental health conditions and outline what patients can expect when beginning treatment. Messaging may stress that these medications are safe when taken as directed. It may also emphasize that people who take medications for mental health conditions should talk to their health care provider about their medical history and other medications they take before starting treatment and inform their health care provider if they experience any adverse effects.
Fact-checking sources: NAMI
