The Southern California Psychiatric Society (SCPS), representing more than 800 psychiatrists providing full-spectrum mental health care across Southern California, issues this statement in response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) MAHA Action Plan to Curb Psychiatric Overprescribing (May 4, 2026).
SCPS is concerned that this framework risks causing serious harm by presenting the nation’s mental health crisis primarily as a problem of psychiatric overprescribing. We support the American Psychiatric Association Statement in response to the HHS action plan (“APA Welcomes National Focus on Mental Health, Urges Evidence-Based Approach and Continued Focus on Access to Care”).
SCPS continues to support the development by qualified organizations of evidence-based guidelines and policies for the proper, effective, and safe use of psychiatric medications for treatment of mental illnesses. We will review any proposed implementation guidelines and policies to ensure that they meet these standards.
Appropriately prescribed psychiatric medications are evidence-based and can be lifesaving treatments. SCPS supports thoughtful, individualized prescribing and deprescribing practices grounded in clinical evidence and opposes efforts that may further stigmatize mental illness or discourage patients from seeking appropriate treatment. Increased prescribing of psychiatric medications more so reflects the prevalence and improved recognition of mental illness, as well as the need for treatment; it should not be misconstrued as the cause of the underlying condition itself.
SCPS will identify and oppose attempts to use the development of such standards, as important as they are, to divert attention from, or substitute for, necessary resources for addressing other critical factors, both social and economic, that directly and profoundly affect the mental health of all Americans. Improvement in the nation’s mental health also includes sustained investment in access to care and appropriate supports for mental health. We support the HHS goal of increasing access to holistic and non-pharmacological treatment, yet are concerned that current and proposed cuts to critical programs are not aligned with these goals.