Coping strategies are defined as thoughts and behaviours that people use to manage the internal and external demands of situations that are appraised as stressful. This should also include a record of any tools used to carry out the coping strategy.

Coping strategies are the methods a person uses to deal with stressful situations. The term is used in this guideline to refer to ways that people recognise changes and cope with their mental illness or related symptoms. Some coping strategies can have negative consequences for a person using them or for the people around them.