- Mary Molewyk Doornbos: Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA. Electronic address: door@calvin.edu.
- Gail Landheer Zandee: Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
- Camilla Bjelland: Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
Men are predisposed to suffer with unaddressed depression and anxiety. This study sought to empower men, in three urban, racially/ethnically diverse, underserved, and impoverished neighborhoods, for mental health self-care by capturing their perceptions of depression and anxiety. Using community-based participatory research, in the context of long-term partnerships between a department of nursing and these neighborhoods, the researchers recruited 50 men aged 23-83 years. Data were collected via six homogeneous, zoom-based focus groups composed of Black, Hispanic, and White men, respectively. The men identified themes pertaining to the conceptualization and devastating effects of depression and anxiety as well as coping strategies employed to mitigate the symptoms.