Men, Depression, and Coping: Are We on the Right Path?

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.