Healthcare Professionals Are Speaking Out Against RFK Jr.’s “Absurd” And “Dangerous” Claims

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“As a clinical social worker in a community-based program serving veterans with serious mental illness (SMI), I feel strongly about this. Many of the clients I work with live with persistent symptoms that impact cognition, mood regulation, daily functioning, housing stability, employment, and relationships. Stabilization is often hard-won and requires coordinated, interdisciplinary care. There is currently NO large, high-quality body of evidence demonstrating that diet ‘cures’ schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Presenting keto as a standalone treatment is not evidence-based and risks misleading individuals who are already navigating complex, vulnerable circumstances.”

“Regarding RFK Jr., my concern is less about political ideology (though I don’t agree with that either) and more about the impact of sweeping health claims that are not grounded in strong scientific consensus. When influential figures make definitive statements about complex medical and mental health conditions without evidence, it can create confusion and erode trust in actual evidence-based care. In mental health (especially SMI), the stakes and potential consequences are massive. We absolutely need continued research that highlights multifaceted approaches to mental health care, and we need to address valid critiques of our healthcare system. But until rigorous evidence demonstrates otherwise, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are serious brain-based illnesses that require comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment. Presenting diet as a cure is not only inaccurate; it is harmful.”

—Social worker