Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota brought up Kennedy's comments against the use of antidepressants, particularly among younger Americans.
Smith brought up what she said were Kennedy's past comments that linked anti-depressants to school shooters that she said were unproven.
"In fact, most school shooters were not treated for antidepressants," she said.
Sen. Smith challenges RFK Jr. over past antidepressant commentsDemocratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota pressed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Finance Committee.
Reuters
Kennedy claimed he was talking about many factors that contributed to the shootings and reiterated that antidepressant medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), have serious side effects and needed more research.
"I just want to have good science," he said.
Smith then got personal, talking about her personal battles with depression and how she was able to treat it with an SSRI medication, therapy and other options to live a happier life.
The senator warned that Kennedy's past comments were not only untruthful but also had a lasting impact -- stigmatizing those suffering from depression.
"These statements that you've made linking antidepressants to school shootings, they reinforce the stigma that people who experience mental health every day face every single day," Smith said. "And I'm very concerned that this is another example of your record of sharing false and misleading information that actually really hurts people."