Knowledge about proactive strategies that men use to cope with depression and suicide is limited. This narrative review aims to provide an overview and critical appraisal of qualitative studies investigating men’s accounts of strategies used to cope with depression and/or suicidal behavior. A search was conducted of relevant databases to identify qualitative (both pure and mixed method) investigations of men’s experiences of depression and suicidal behavior, as well as the strategies used by men to cope with these experiences. The rigor and validity of studies was assessed using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist. Included studies were reviewed and synthesized using the narrative methodology. Twenty studies met inclusion criteria, with 17 specifically focused on men’s accounts of depression and/or suicide, examining the topic from a masculine perspective, and 3 that addressed gender differences in coping strategies incidental to their primary aim. Specifically “masculine” methods of coping with negative feelings overwhelmingly focused on unhelpful behaviors, such as use of drugs, risk taking, irritability, and emotional withdrawal. There was limited reporting or exploration of “positive” or adaptive coping behaviors. Current qualitative studies have tended to focus on men’s unhelpful behaviors in relation to depression. Rigorous qualitative studies exploring positive strategies used by men to cope with depression are needed so that targeted public health campaigns can be disseminated.

Evidence-based assessment, which requires the use of reliable and valid measurement tools, is an essential component of many services that school social workers provide to promote the social, emotional, and behavioral health of students. A wide variety of psychometrically sound assessment tools exist to choose from, but it can be difficult for school personnel to identify and access the tools best suited to meet their needs. In an effort to reduce these barriers, the authors of this article provide a concise guide to free, validated measurement tools that are feasible for routine use in school settings for the most common youth mental health concerns (anxiety, depression, and disruptive behavior). The psychometric properties and other practical characteristics of 37 measurement tools are reviewed, accompanied by links to access each tool and suggestions to help social workers identify which may best fit any particular combination of the diverse goals, school settings, and student populations they serve.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has disrupted the routine provision of community mental health services, which is especially concerning given that emerging data suggest a rise in mental health concerns related to the COVID-19 crisis ( Xiong et al., 2020 ). Thus, it seems imperative to provide trauma-informed services that are tailored to clients’ coping with the pandemic and can be effectively delivered via telehealth. The goals of these important services would be to mitigate current distress, help prevent the onset of long-term mental health problems, and facilitate client safety during a public health crisis. The present article provides an overview of adoption and telehealth implementation of the Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) secondary prevention program within a psychology training clinic. Initial clinical outcome data supported the program’s success in reducing mental health symptoms among individuals in psychological distress due to the COVID-19 crisis; however, the results were more striking for adults than for youths. The article concludes with recommendations for broader implementation and future directions for clinicians, supervisors, organizations, and researchers.

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