Father's Day Special: When Dad Has Depression — Helping Children Understand Mental Health

How do you explain depression to a child?For Todd Rennebohm, that question became deeply personal.After years of living with depression, anxiety, ADHD, alcoholism, suicidal thoughts, and multiple hospitalizations, Todd found himself facing one of the darkest nights of his life. What began as a desperate attempt to leave something behind for his children eventually became Sometimes Daddy Cries, a children's book designed to help families talk openly about mental health.In this Father's Day special episode, Todd shares the powerful story behind the book and the lessons he learned as a father navigating depression and recovery.Together, Todd, Terry, and Dr. Anita Sanz discuss: What depression really feels like beyond "sadness"  Why children need honest, age-appropriate conversations about mental health  How depression can affect parenting and family dynamics  The connection between depression, addiction, ADHD, and anxiety  Why hospitalization can be an important part of recovery  The unique stigma faced by men with depression  How parents can help children understand mental illness without fear  Why hope, treatment, and support matter This conversation is a reminder that depression is an illness, not a character flaw. And just like a physical illness, it deserves understanding, treatment, and compassion.For fathers who struggle. For families who love them. And for children trying to understand what they're seeing, this episode offers honesty, hope, and language that helps.Primary Topics Covered:Depression in fathersMen's mental healthParenting with depressionExplaining depression to childrenChildren's mental health educationAddiction and recoverySuicidal thoughts and hospitalizationADHD and depressionMental health stigma in menHope after depressionTimestamps:00:01:50 – Meet Todd and the story behind Sometimes Daddy Cries 00:02:38 – Writing the book during a suicidal crisis 00:04:03 – Asking for help and choosing treatment 00:04:39 – Reading from the book: "Sometimes Daddy cries" 00:05:11 – What depression really feels like beyond sadness 00:07:10 – Why Todd compares depression to a tummy ache 00:08:24 – Explaining mental illness to children 00:09:39 – Hospitalization and recovery 00:11:22 – Learning from mistakes as a parent 00:12:05 – Why the book helps fathers feel less alone 00:12:31 – The message Todd hopes children take away 00:13:01 – The message Todd hopes men take away 00:14:37 – Why children shouldn't blame themselves for a parent's depression 00:15:38 – Why treatment, support, and love create hope 00:16:08 – The hidden epidemic of depression in men 00:17:02 – The danger of not talking about mental illness in familiesExplore mental health and addiction treatment options at recovery.comFacebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/