US Edition - Today's top story: Are too many Americans taking antidepressants? September 10, 2026 US Edition   Top headlines Tourism industry slowly adapts to solo travelers Fall and late summer are a great time to control garden weeds How medical schools can address community health Lead story One in 6 American adults take antidepressants – an enormous number, by any stretch. Is it too many? Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others have said it is. In May, Kennedy unveiled an initiative encouraging doctors to steer patients away from taking antidepressants and other psychiatric medications when possible, stirring debate and significant pushback. The reality is complicated, argues Andrew McLean, a longtime psychiatrist at the University of North Dakota. “In my view, there are grains of truth to claims that [these drugs] are overused, but the full picture is much more nuanced.” McLean untangles the different factors that have driven up antidepressant use, particularly over the past few years – while pointing out that even despite this rise, many Americans with serious depression get little to no treatment at all. Miss us on Sundays? Get a selection of our best and most popular stories (or try our other weekly emails).   Alla Katsnelson Health Editor   Rates of anxiety and depression have grown since the COVID-19 pandemic – as have prescriptions for antidepressants. brizmaker/iStock via Getty Images Plus Are too many Americans taking antidepressants? Andrew McLean, University of North Dakota Calls to reduce the use of antidepressants highlight valid issues with long-term use and withdrawal, but blanket efforts to discourage their use overlooks why they are so widely prescribed. Environment + Energy 2026’s El Niño is shaping up to be a doozy – it’s already affecting global shipping, fish behavior and heat Steven Paton, Smithsonian Institution El Niño can affect agriculture, marine life and economies in profound ways, including slowing commerce at the Panama Canal. This El Niño is likely to be the strongest in over a century. Pennsylvania’s aging levees are under pressure from scarce funding and severe weather Kaleigh Yost, Penn State Many levees built in the mid-1900s do not offer enough protection for today’s storms, and small rural communities in particular struggle to afford needed upgrades. To control weeds in your garden, late summer and early fall is the best time to make a difference Manjot Kaur Sidhu, University of Maine What gardeners do at the end of the growing season will determine how clean, productive and manageable their garden beds will be when spring arrives. Politics + Society Americans agree their democracy is in crisis – yet the solution is as simple as it is elusive Kenneth Michael White, Kennesaw State University An educated citizenry is the key to making self-government succeed, Founding Father Thomas Jefferson said. What we remember when we remember 9/11 Jennifer Talarico, Lafayette College Having a vivid, detailed memory of a remarkable event like 9/11 can seem like a demonstration of patriotism and a connection with other Americans. Science + Technology Learning without a brain – how bacteria store memories and remember the past like artificial neural networks Shiladitya Banerjee, Georgia Institute of Technology Bacteria use strategies similar to artificial neural networks to use the past to adapt to the future. How underwater ‘booms’ could provide earlier warning of deadly volcanic tsunamis Shane Cronin, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Jose Carlos Borrero, University of Southern California Underwater sound signals created by 2022’s enormous Hunga eruption have pointed scientists to a new way to warn people of unpredictable volcanic tsunamis. Health + Medicine I created one of the nation’s largest anti-poverty programs – here’s what I’ve learned about how medical schools can improve community health Mona Hanna, Michigan State University More than 15,000 families in Michigan have received cash support from Rx Kids. Participants say the program helps them pay bills and maintain their health. Economy + Business The tourism industry is slowly waking up to solo travelers’ needs Peter McGraw, University of Colorado Boulder More and more travelers want the freedom of going it alone, but with connections and activities with other people. Trending on site Mosquitoes are picky eaters – we studied 3 common South Florida species to learn why they like some people more than others Taxpayers don’t want to pay for new NFL stadiums – so why did politicians approve billions in subsidies to fund six new ones? Huachuma, the Andean psychedelic cactus, is drawing Western seekers and raising ethical questions Today's chart Shifting the cleanup cost of packaging waste to companies could encourage greener packaging – but only if states are aligned Read the article   About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. 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