Final answer:
Policies derived from understanding the link between social class and mental illness should aim to empower lower social classes with more control and predictability, improve access to healthcare, and reduce stigma and resource inequality to improve mental health outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The policy implications of the two proposed mechanisms used to explain the association between social class and mental illness in the United States involve addressing disparities in perceived control, stress levels, and access to healthcare. Affluent individuals often have better health outcomes partly due to a stronger sense of control over their lives and stressors, indicating that policies aiming to empower individuals of lower social classes with more control and predictability could be beneficial. Moreover, addressing resource inequality through improved access to healthcare and other resources is crucial. Additionally, recognizing the role of stigma and medicalization in mental health could inform policies to reduce social disparities in mental health care and outcomes.
For instance, healthcare policies could focus on improving mental health services accessibility for lower social classes, while education programs could help in reducing stigma. Furthermore, policies that aim to mitigate the impact of social determinants of health such as unemployment and resource inequality could help reduce the burden of mental illness in disadvantaged populations.