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Sidney H Hankerson

Jun 18, 2026

11:35
So irritability, what are three signs that every parent of a young Black male should be looking for when they're looking for signs of depression?
11:44
Number one is irritability.
11:46
So what that looks like is if you're having a conversation with your kid and they ignore you and just get up from the table, run out of the room, slam the door, or if they're loud and argumentative with you, that is how depression can look like in youth.
12:01
Another thing is just disengagement, social withdrawal.
12:06
A lot of black boys that I talk with who are depressed say, I just don't feel like doing anything.
12:11
And what we call that is anhedonia, which you so perfectly like have made part of the public discourse with your book in terms of high functioning depression.
12:20
So anhedonia is a key feature among boys, especially among boys who were previously physically active.
16:48
So what are three ways that fathers can really start that conversation with their kids about mental health?

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