Thoughts on how to fix a depression in the roof

I have seen much worse than that repaired. Find yourself an old body shop that has been in business for 30 years or more. Ask around your town if anyone still does lead seam repairs. If the guy can do lead, he will have the knowledge to fix your roof for certain. I don't mean the repairs have to be done with lead, just that someone that has been around that long knows how to work old metal. Good news is that it is a lot more workable than the thin stuff used the last several decades.
My guy would heat and cool it and get it right. But that would ruin the paint
As I bet the brace is bent under it
Hope for the best you could do as,stated and put a few wedges between the brace with the headliner out and seam sealer and hope it stays.