Mad in America

Grunt Style Foundation's 'War Cry For Change' Roundtable in partnership with VFW and DAV

June 4, 2025

6:00 PM - Pre-Event Medicating Normal- Filmscreening/Panel Discussion: Kellogg Conference Hotel Theater at Gallaudet University

June 5, 2025:

9:00 AM - Press Conference: House Triangle Sponsored by Congressman Jack Bergman

9:15 AM - Irreverent Warriors "Hike to Heal" to National Mall for Skull of Sacrifice Remembrance Ceremony

12:00 PM - Roundtable Discussion with Panelists: US Capitol Visitors Center SVC 212-10

Summary:

This two-day summit on Capitol Hill bringing together legislators, veterans, surviving families, mental health professionals, veteran service organizations, and global experts to examine the role medications play in veteran suicides. Together, we will chart a path toward reducing harm in mental health treatment and prescribing practices, while working to improve the quality of life for all veterans and their families.

The Events

The summit will begin on June 4th with a pre-event screening of the award-winning documentary, Medicating Normal. Thursday, June 5th's events will begin with a press conference on Capitol Hill featuring members of Congress, veteran leaders, and families who have lost loved ones to suicide. Immediately after, the Washington, DC Chapter of Irreverent Warriors will lead a “Hike to Heal” from Capitol Hill to the National Mall, culminating in the unveiling of a powerful public art installation symbolizing the lives lost and the silence endured by our community. Veterans and families will be invited to toss prescription pill bottles into the skull as a symbol of solidarity against the overprescribing of veterans by the VA. At 12:00 PM, a roundtable will convene veterans with lived experience, surviving families, researchers, and clinicians to share their stories and insights. The purpose of this gathering is to educate Congressional staff, elected officials, veteran service organization leadership, and veteran advocates on the connection between psychiatric medications and veteran suicide—and to explore solutions that reduce harm and promote healing for veterans and their families.

Featured Experts

We are honored to welcome renowned thought leaders in medicine, research, and advocacy, including:

• Dr. Peter Gøtzsche – Physician, researcher, and co-founder of the Cochrane Collaboration
• Robert Whitaker – Investigative journalist, author of Anatomy of an Epidemic, and founder of Mad in America
• Kim Witczak – Global drug safety advocate, marketing executive, and former member of the FDA’s Psychopharmacological Drug Advisory Committee
• Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring – Board-certified psychiatrist, founder of the Taper Clinic, former FDA regulator, and clinical researcher at Janssen
• Angela Peacock – MSW, CPC, – MSW, CPC, Combat Veteran, Psych Drug Withdrawal Consultant, Veteran Advocate, Coach

Building on Momentum

This convening builds upon the success of GSF’s Veterans Harm Reduction Summits—held previously in Boston, Massachusetts, and at the VFW National Home in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. Those events brought together state agencies, national and local veteran organizations, and leaders from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The summit series draws inspiration from the FDA’s 1991 “Prozac Hearings” and the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s 2010 hearings of the same name. These landmark hearings spotlighted expert testimony, research linking medications to suicides, and firsthand accounts of harm. Despite their significance, no meaningful reforms followed.

Why Now

As our understanding of mental health continues to evolve, it's clear that we must take a closer look at all factors contributing to the veteran suicide crisis—including the complex role of psychiatric medications. In recent years, both emerging research and powerful stories from veterans and their families have pointed to the need for more careful, individualized approaches to prescribing and deprescribing. By revisiting this long-neglected aspect of care, we have a unique opportunity to elevate diverse perspectives, share the latest data and lived experiences, and collaborate on meaningful, evidence-based solutions. In 2025, we are calling on leaders across all sectors to join us in advancing harm reduction strategies that prioritize safety, informed choice, and the long-term well-being of those who have served.