New suicide survivor support program launches in Montgomery County

DAYTON, Ohio ( WDTN ) — A new coalition in Dayton is seeking volunteers to help those dealing with the trauma of suicide.

The Montgomery County Prevention Coalition (MCPC) announced Monday that it would be expanding its postvention efforts through a new program.

Called Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (L.O.S.S) Team, the program is designed to provide resources and hope to families dealing with the immediate aftermath of suicide.

“Having a L.O.S.S. Team at the scene of suicide provides loss survivors with support, a connection to resources, and most importantly, a sense of hope,” said Brittini Long, Senior Program Coordinator for Montgomery County ADAMHS.

The trauma-responsive model involves two or more trained volunteers who respond to the scene of a suicide to provide non-intrusive support to those impacted by the loss. At least one of these two trained volunteers would also be a survivor of suicide loss.

Funding has been provided by the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) and Drug-Free Communities through the CDC.

The coalition is currently seeking volunteers for the L.O.S.S. Team with empathy, listening skills, and experience with trauma. The volunteer application can be found here .

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