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While serving the mental health needs of people in Stanly County as a licensed counselor at Monarch over the past year, Sarah Moore met with several young people struggling with their sexual identity.

She said with the county having limited resources available for the LGBTQ community, Moore, now a visiting assistant professor at Wake Forest, has talked about the issue with middle and high school counselors in Stanly County Schools and Gray Stone Day School as well as counselors at Monarch.

Through the conversations, she helped create a support/social group for sixth-graders through high school seniors that will meet for the first time at 7 p.m. Nov. 22 at First Presbyterian Church in Albemarle. It will be a chance for young people to meet and socialize with each other.

School and Monarch counselors will also likely be at the event, Moore said.

She said young people who identify as LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning) or are struggling with their sexual identity are two to seven times more likely to complete suicide and are more likely to get bullied and kicked out of their homes.

Moore said she met and talked with around 20 young people during the last year who struggled with their sexual identity.

She said many people do not seek help because they are afraid their families would not approve.

Moore wants to create a safe place where young people are welcomed and embraced.

“We want to make sure that they know that there are some people in this community that love them for who they are,” she said.

For more information, contact Moore at 704-796-7046 or sarahmoorephd@gmail.com.