WASHINGTON, D.C. — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is launching formal studies into potential links between psychiatric medications—particularly SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)—and violent behavior. The review will also examine drugs commonly used in gender transition treatments.
The announcement came during a Fox News interview following a tragic church shooting in Minnesota earlier this week. The shooter, 23-year-old Robin Westman, identified as transgender and reportedly left behind a manifesto detailing years of depression, suicidal thoughts, and personal struggles with gender identity. The manifesto, written in Cyrillic script, also expressed a belief in being terminally ill.
“We are conducting those studies now,” Kennedy told host Brian Kilmeade. “The NIH is investigating whether SSRIs and other psychiatric drugs—many of which carry black box warnings for suicidal and homicidal ideation—may contribute to violent behavior. We cannot rule them out.”
Although Westman’s prescription history has not been made public, the incident has reignited national debate over the safety of certain psychiatric and gender-affirming medications.
This marks the second instance in two years involving a transgender individual in a school-related shooting.
SSRIs such as Zoloft and Lexapro—commonly prescribed for depression—carry FDA-mandated black box warnings about increased risks of suicidal thoughts and aggression, particularly in people under 25. NIH data has previously highlighted these and other medications, such as Varenicline, as frequently associated with violent incidents.
While Kennedy did not link any specific medication or group to the Minnesota shooting, his comments suggest a broader initiative by the Trump administration to reevaluate the psychiatric drug landscape, including those used in gender transition protocols.
