Glossary
Minority Stress
Minority stress is the chronic, additional stress experienced by members of stigmatized groups due to discrimination, expectation of rejection, internalized stigma, and identity concealment. It is a primary driver of mental health disparities for LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and other marginalized populations.
The minority stress model was developed by Dr. Ilan Meyer. Affirmative therapies address both the external stressors and the internalized impact. Effective treatment validates the systemic source of distress while building individual coping capacity.
Source: Williams Institute — UCLA School of Law