Empowerment is the belief that one has power and control in life, including illness, and involves taking responsibility for self and advocating for self and others. This statement is:

• A. False
• B. True
• C. Only with family support
• D. Related to medication only

Answer: (B)

This statement is true. Empowerment means believing you have power and control over your life, including how you handle illness, and it involves taking responsibility for yourself and advocating for both yourself and others. In behavioral health and development services, empowerment supports recovery by promoting self-determination and active participation in decisions about treatment, daily living, and available resources. It isn’t dependent on family support or limited to medication; those can be helpful, but empowerment centers on the individual’s own sense of agency, choices, and advocacy. Practically, empowerment appears when a person collaborates with clinicians on treatment options, seeks services they need, and speaks up to ensure their preferences and goals are acknowledged.