In this He’s a Guy Podcast LIVE season finale, we ask the raw question: Is depression a choice? Joined by CAMH psychiatrist Dr. David Gratzer and therapist Leslie Ann Smith, we unpack what depression really is, the difference between sadness and clinical depression, cultural barriers for Black communities, and what society still gets wrong.

Our hosts, Stef, Tychon, Terril, and Theon share personal truths, myths about “snapping out of it,” and why understanding depression as an illness matters more than ever.

👉 Join the conversation. Break the stigma. Heal together.

🔔 Subscribe & turn on notifications for more unfiltered conversations on mental health, masculinity, and culture.

Key Discussion Points:

• 0:00 Welcome & Introduction
• 0:56 Is Depression a Choice? The Core Question
• 2:40 Mental Check-ins: Our Honest Feelings Live
• 6:49 Sadness vs. Clinical Depression: Expert Definition (Dr. David Gratzer)
• 8:18 Personal Battles: Our Hosts Share Their Depression Experiences
• 14:12 The Impact of Societal Views on Mental Illness
• 17:14 Cultural Influences on Depression & Treatment (Leslie Ann Smith)
• 28:46 One Word: How Can We Change How We Treat Depression?

#Depression #MentalHealth #Podcast #BlackMen #CAMH #Therapy #IsItAChoice #LivePodcast #BlackMentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #Stigma #Healing #RealTalk #Psychiatry

📢 Connect with the hosts:

📲 Instagram [@tychoncarter @jiimmy0131 @mindstateu @_thacalm

Connect with the guest:

Dr. David Gratzer: Psychiatrist @ CAMH

Leslie Ann Smith: Co-Founder of Kahle Therapy & Consulting