Indiana LOSS Team
Losing a loved one or friend to suicide is life changing. It is likely one of the most difficult losses a person can experience. A suicide loss can leave people feeling overwhelmed, angry, or numb. Many loss survivors talk about it feeling surreal. These feeling can last for weeks, months, or longer.
Loss Survivors
Loss survivors is a term used to describe people impacted by a suicide death. It refers to those people who are left behind. Loss survivors may include family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, teachers, classmates, therapists, clients, first responders, and many others. Loss survivors may experience a wide range of personal impact intensity and for varying durations. Those people who were emotionally close to the person who died may have especially intense and long lasting reactions.
Helpful Articles:
If you would like to connect to a L.O.S.S. Team in your area for support or more information on how you can support others, choose your county or a neighboring county below
Loss Teams
Mouse over a highlighted county for LOSS Team information
Lake County
Contact: Anastasia Loomis-Santana, anastasia.santana@geminus.care
Status*: Non-Scene Outreach
St. Joseph County
Contact: Kent Laudeman, loss@uhs-in.org
Status*: In process
Elkhart County
Contact: Barbara Welty, elkhartlossteam@gmail.com
Status*: Active
Marshall County
Contact: Viki Brown, info@dustinsplace.org
Status*: Active
Huntington County
Contact: Jan WIlliams, adm@ysbofhuntingtonco.org
Status*: In Process
Delaware County
Contact: Maria Hernandez-Finch, ContactUs@munciecares.org
Status*: Non-Scene Outreach
Tippecanoe County
Contact: Sheri Moore, office@nami-wci.org
Status*: Non-Scene Outreach
Clinton County
Contact: Nick Seager, info@healthyclintoncounty.org
Status*: Non-Scene Outreach
Boone County
Contact: Pascal Fettig, LossTeam@mhaboonecounty.org
Status*: In process
Hendricks County
Contact: Deana Carter, loss@mhahc.org
Status*: Non-Scene Outreach
Marion County
Contact: Julie Hayden, lossteamindy@mhai.net
Visit Website
Status*: In Process
Counties Served: Indianapolis and Marion
Johnson County
Contact: Erica Ratz, atlas@upstsreamprevention.org
Visit Website
Status*: Active
Counties Served: Johnson
Vigo County
Contact: Rachel Reed, info@mhawci.org
Status*: In Process
Clark County
Contact: Elizabeth Gregory, spark@lifespringhealthsystems.org
Status*: Non-Scene Outreach
Vanderburgh County
Contact: Emily Reidford, ereidford@evansvillerehab.com
Status*: Active
Floyd County
Contact: Elizabeth Gregory, spark@lifespringhealthsystems.org
Status*: In Process
Dearborn County
Contact: Robin Kichler, ocof@onecommunityonefamily.org
Status*: Active
Allen County
Contact: Mel Shade, lossteamfw@gmail.com
Status*: In Process
Counties Served: Allen
Dubois County
Contact: Kendra Nichols, lockingarmslossteam@yahoo.com
Status*: Non-Scene Outreach
Bartholomew County
Contact: Charlotte Barton Coombs, bcospc@outlook.com
Status*: In Process
Greene County
Contact: Wendy Bailey, greenecountylossteam23@gmail.com
Status*: In Process
Pike County
Contact: Jenny Patrick, jerrygrubbfoundation@gmail.com
Visit Website
Status*: Non-Scene Outreach
Counties Served: Pike
Porter County
Contact: Sandy Kender, pclossteam@gmail.com
Status*: Active
Counties Served: Porter
Lagrange County
Contact: Christina Blaskie, christina.blaskie@parkview.com
Status*: In Process
Counties Served: Lagrange
Hamilton County
Contact: Jamie Pristasch, jpristasch@westfield.in.gov
Status*: In Process
Counties Served: Hamilton
| * Status represents the timeliest response type available to support loss survivors. There will be occasions where a response based on LOSS Team status is not possible. |
What is a L.O.S.S. Team?
When activated by a Coroner, Medical Examiner, or Law Enforcement agency, a Local Outreach to Suicide Survivor (L.O.S.S.) Team goes to the scene of a suicide to support those who are left behind. A L.O.S.S. Team response usually consists of two or three trained volunteers – many of whom have lost someone close to them to suicide. L.O.S.S. Team volunteers are present to those left behind in a nonintrusive manner. L.O.S.S. Team volunteers provide support, resources, and understanding.
Why are L.O.S.S. Teams Important?
A L.O.S.S. Team can provide a lifeline to the newly bereaved. Having a person who has lost someone to suicide present in the immediate aftermath can provide an instillation of hope. Through shared understanding and experience, L.O.S.S. Team volunteers can be a calming and reassuring presence. They do this by holding space for despair, anger, or shock. By listening. By providing practical support. By providing resources so when the newly bereaved are ready, they know what options they can turn to for support. L.O.S.S. Team volunteers who have lost someone special to suicide can provide a sense of normalcy and hope simply by introducing themselves as someone who has also been impacted by a suicide death.