Minority Stress:

Minority stress is a severe, chronic stress, tied to outright discrimination, defined in psychology as “psychological and physiological effects relating to adverse social conditions.” It is experienced by ethnic, racial, sexual/gender (LGBTQ+) minorities, and stigmatized neurodivergent individuals and neurominorities (like autism). It increases the risk of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and self-harming behaviors. Minority stress includes being denied services, having relationships not recognized as legitimate, needing to educate providers about identity, or having identity questioned or denied. LGBTQ+ individuals worry about loss of confidentiality by school/work or healthcare professionals, as do LGBTQ+ youth, by parents and other authorities. The minority stress model or stress theory — introduced in 2003 by American psychiatric epidemiologist Ilan H. Meyer, senior public policy scholar, UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute — has guided research on gender/sexual minority health and wellbeing. The hope is to bring awareness, change social stigmas, and jumpstart new and targeted mental health treatments. Also see Social Safety