8-K

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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K



                                 CURRENT REPORT
     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


         Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) June 13, 2018


                    First Trust Strategic High Income Fund II
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)



       Massachusetts                   811-21842                  86-1157779
(State or Other Jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer
     of Incorporation)                                       Identification No.)


   120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
           Wheaton, Illinois                                        60187
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                          (Zip Code)


      Registrant's telephone number, including area code   (630) 765-8000


       ___________________________________________________________________
         (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report.)



Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):


|_|   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
      (17 CFR 230.425)

|_|   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
      (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

|_|   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_|   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





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Item 8.01    Other Events.


First Trust Strategic High Income Fund II is filing herewith a press release
issued today by First Trust Advisors L.P. ("FTA") announcing that, subject to
the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions, the merger of First
Trust Strategic High Income Fund II (NYSE: FHY), a closed-end fund managed by
FTA, with and into First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (NYSE: FSD), a
closed-end fund managed by FTA, is expected to become effective immediately
before the opening of the NYSE on June 25, 2018.



Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.


     (d)   Exhibits

        Exhibit
        Number        Description

           99.1       Press release of First Trust Advisors L.P. dated
                      June 13, 2018.





                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: June 13, 2018             FIRST TRUST STRATEGIC HIGH INCOME FUND II

                                 By:    /s/ W. Scott Jardine
                                        ----------------------------------
                                 Name:   W. Scott Jardine
                                 Title:  Secretary





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

        Exhibit
        Number        Description

           99.1       Press release of First Trust Advisors L.P. dated
                      June 13, 2018.

EX-99.1

PRESS RELEASE SOURCE: First Trust Advisors L.P.

FIRST TRUST ANNOUNCES EXPECTED EFFECTIVE DATE OF FIRST TRUST STRATEGIC HIGH
INCOME FUND II'S MERGER INTO FIRST TRUST HIGH INCOME LONG/SHORT FUND

Wheaton, IL - (BUSINESS WIRE) - June 13, 2018 - First Trust Advisors L.P.
("FTA") announced today that, subject to the satisfaction of certain customary
closing conditions, the merger of First Trust Strategic High Income Fund II
(NYSE: FHY), a closed-end fund managed by FTA, with and into First Trust High
Income Long/Short Fund (NYSE: FSD), a closed-end fund managed by FTA, is
expected to become effective immediately before the opening of the NYSE on June
25, 2018.

      As previously announced, the shareholders of FHY have approved the fund's
merger with and into FSD at a Special Meeting of Shareholders on June 11, 2018.
The merger was approved by the Board of Trustees of each of FHY and FSD on March
6, 2018.

      Upon the completion of the transaction, which is expected to be tax-free,
the assets of FHY will be transferred to, and the liabilities of FHY will be
assumed by, FSD. The shareholders of FHY will receive shares of FSD with a value
equal to the aggregate net asset value of the FHY shares held by them.

      FSD is a diversified, closed-end management investment company that seeks
to provide current income. FSD has a secondary objective of capital
appreciation. FSD seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing, under
normal market conditions, a majority of its assets in a diversified portfolio of
U.S. and foreign (including emerging markets) high yield corporate fixed-income
securities of varying maturities that are rated below-investment grade at the
time of purchase.

      First Trust Advisors L.P., FHY's and FSD's investment advisor, along with
its affiliate, First Trust Portfolios L.P., are privately-held companies which
provide a variety of investment services, including asset management and
financial advisory services, with collective assets under management or
supervision of approximately $126 billion as of May 31, 2018 through unit
investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, mutual funds and
separate managed accounts.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

      This press release is not intended to, and shall not, constitute an offer
to purchase or sell shares of FHY or FSD. Certain statements made in this news
release that are not historical facts are referred to as "forward-looking
statements" under the U.S. federal securities laws. Actual future results or
occurrences may differ significantly from those anticipated in any forward-
looking statements due to numerous factors. Generally, the words "believe,"
"expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "will" and similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not
historical in nature. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the historical
experience of FTA and the funds managed by FTA and its present expectations or
projections. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements,
which speak only as of the date they are made. FTA, FHY and FSD undertake no
responsibility to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.

      An investor should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks,
charges and expenses of FHY or FSD, as applicable, before investing. The
prospectuses for FHY and FSD contain this and other important information and
are available free of charge by calling toll-free at 1-800-621-1675 or writing
FHY or FSD at 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400, Wheaton, IL 60187. The
prospectus should be read carefully before investing.


CONTACT:  Jeff Margolin - (630) 915-6784
CONTACT:  Don Swade - (630) 765-8661
SOURCE:   First Trust Advisors L.P.