Gaston County health official works to expand mental health resources for teens

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTV) - Trey Sarter, mental health coordinator for Gaston County Public Health, is working to reach the county’s younger population, a group he said has become a top priority for local public health leaders.

Sarter works at the Highland Health Center in Gastonia. WBTV has partnered with the Gaston County Health Department to educate people about the help available for young people. WBTV anchor Alex Giles spoke with Sarter about the effort.

A role focused on connecting groups

Sarter’s role is to bring people together. He works to get public health workers to team up with churches, businesses and nonprofits to offer services for the community.

“I’m always like a connector so I’m always the one that’s kind of really how can we bridge these things together in our community and that’s really kind of how the collaborative started,” Sarter said.

Focus on youth needs

Sarter said he heard about the need to address the needs of young people in the county.

“I would hear a lot of the need and outcry of ‘how can we address the needs of our youth, whether they’re in middle school, high school, looking at the data,’” Sarter said.

Giles asked Sarter about the biggest mental health challenges teens face today.

“It’s changed so much even since I was in high school. It’s just a lot of pressure whether it’s social media, seeing things and trying to keep up with everyone else. Also, just a lot of academic pressure too,” Sarter said.

Teen Action Council and summit

Gaston County recently formed a Teen Action Council. Its goal is to bring young people together to advocate for teen mental health.

“They’re smart. They’re bright. They have ideas,” Sarter said.

Sarter said council members serve as a liaison. They communicate with other teenagers across the county and return to community stakeholders to help develop new ways to serve the county’s youth.

Sarter said a teen summit is in the works for early 2027. He said it will teach teens about “life skills, college prep, workforce development, financial literacy.”

Giles asked Sarter how important it is to pay attention to teens and adolescents in the community.

“It’s crucial. It’s crucial. I mean they truly are the future, right? So we start now and invest in them now. Then that investment pays off in the longer run,” Sarter said.

WBTV will introduce some of the teens from the Teen Action Council on Nov. 10 during its special action day.