The Westmoreland County LOSS (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) Team has added a DOSS (Drug Overdose Survivor Support) Team. The LOSS Team began responding to suicides in June 2023. Hundreds of families have been impacted by our efforts. We are hoping to expand our reach with the DOSS Team.
LOSS/DOSS teams are made up of trained professionals and survivors who respond shortly after a suicide or overdose occurs, offering immediate support, resources and hope, reducing isolation, dispelling stigma and connecting survivors with ongoing care.
Suicide and overdose deaths leave a deep and lasting impact on families, friends and entire communities left to grieve and search for answers. In the aftermath, timely and compassionate support can make a critical difference. That is why local LOSS/DOSS teams are so essential.
With the changing of our county coroner in 2026, the LOSS/DOSS team will now function as an independent team under Ray of Hope, the county Suicide Awareness and Prevention Task Force.
For on-scene responses, the team can now be dispatched by any first responder. If you or someone you know is struggling with the experience of a loss of suicide or overdose, please call 724-535-1829. Help is available 24/7.
Heather McLean
Greensburg