individual and social levels. Social applications On the societal level, minority stress research shows that prejudice and discrimination are common occurrences for minority individuals, and that they have damaging effects for individual well-being. This information has been used by law enforcement, policymakers, and social organizations to target and minimize the occurrence of distal stressors and, thus, to improve minority health on a large scale. For example, evidence that prejudice is associated with minority stress has been used in several amicus curiae briefs to settle important court cases regarding prejudice and discrimination against minority groups. Evidence that prejudice and discrimination are associated with minority stress that harms well-being for LGB individuals has also been invoked in the congressional debate about anti-harassment protection for LGB youth at the federal level. In the future, the minority stress concept can be used to advocate for federal funding for nationwide campaigns and interventions that aim to reduce intergroup prejudice. If successful, these programs may reduce the rate of distal stressors, significantly improving the mental and physical health of minority individuals. Individual applications On the individual level, minority stress research has uncovered differences in how minorities react to prejudice. For example, studies have shown that some individuals ruminate on experiences with prejudice, which is associated with anxiety and depression. Similarly, minority stress research has revealed that internalized stigma (i.e., distaste for one's own minority group) is associated with negative psychological outcomes. From these findings, clinicians have developed some interventions to decrease internalized stigma and improve well-being for minority individuals. When paired with structural interventions, these clinical applications for reducing minority stress may help to improve the pervasive health disparities observed in minority communities. See also Alter ego Center for Minority Health Closeted Community Health Ego-dystonic sexual orientation He never married Health equity Homosexuality and psychology Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions Indigenous health Immigrant paradox Inequality in disease Intergroup anxiety John Henryism Masking (personality) Model minority Overachievement Passing Perry v. Schwarzenegger Population health Pronoun game Race and health Shibboleth Slavery hypertension hypothesis Social determinants of health Social epidemiology Stereotype threat Stigma management Stress (physiology) Stress (psychological) Suicide among LGBT youth Weathering hypothesis References Psychological stress Majority–minority relations Race and health