Social Change Response
I agree with the position of the writer regarding the use of the empirical-rational strategy. This is because societal change, according to this strategy, can be brought about if enough evidence, which is not only factual but also convincing, is provided to the public (Salam & Alghamdi, 2016). The numbers of the annual cases of psychiatric disorders are enough to raise the concern as well as the need for the public to adopt ways that could improve their mental health. Additionally, given the gravity of mental health, therapeutic communication will be as useful a technique as the empirical-rational strategy. However, a combination of these two strategies could be useful in reducing the prevalence of psychological disorders.
Stigmatization is a significant concern in relation to mental health. In this case, both public stigma and self-stigma work in congruence to affect even more the mental health of the already affected individuals. It is prudent to note that stigma and discrimination delay or serves as an impediment to the immediate seeking of help or treatment by the people with mental health issues, and consequently, this also creates an impediment to their recovery (Stuart, 2016). It is subject to this that it is agreeable that public education will serve as a significant influence to put an end to stigmatization. The importance of putting an end to stigmatization and discrimination is the fact that if individuals with mental health problems get help early, they may be able to fully recovers or be able to manage well their non-lucid moments.
In order to put a hold to stigmatization, there will be a need for the development of a proper understanding of the mental illness. I tend to concur with the position of the paper that different settings have a different understanding of mental health, and conventional knowledge on the same will lay a foundation that will be instrumental in combating stigma as a means of improving mental health (Michaels et al.,. 2017).
References
Michaels, P. J., López, M., Rüsch, N., & Corrigan, P. W. (2017). Constructs and concepts comprising the stigma of mental illness. Psychology, Society, & Education, 4(2), 183-194.
Salam, M., & Alghamdi, K. S. (2016). Nurse educators: Introducing a change and evading resistance. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 6(11), 80-83.
Stuart, H. (2016). Reducing the stigma of mental illness. Global Mental Health, 3.