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.

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

Loss Teams
Lake County St. Joseph County Elkhart County Marshall County Whitley County Huntington County Delaware County Tippecanoe County Clinton County Boone County Hendricks County Marion County Johnson County Vigo County Clark County Vanderburgh County Floyd County Dearborn County Allen County

Lake County

Contact: Aaron Coen, aaron.coen@geminus.care

Status*: In Process

St. Joseph County

Contact: Kent Laudeman, loss@uhs-in.org

Status*: Non-Scene Response in Place

Elkhart County

Contact: Barbara Welty, elkhartlossteam@gmail.com

Status*: Non-Scene Response in Place

Marshall County

Contact: Viki Brown, info@dustinsplace.org

Status*: In Process

Whitley County

Contact: Shawn Ellis, sellis@mission25cc.org

Status*: In Process

Huntington County

Contact: Jan WIlliams, adm@ysbofhuntingtonco.org

Status*: In Process

Delaware County

Contact: Maria Hernandez-Finch, ContactUs@munciecares.org

Status*: Non-Scene Response in Place

Tippecanoe County

Contact: Sheri Moore, office@nami-wci.org

Status*: Non-Scene Response in Place

Clinton County

Contact: Kathy Martin, info@healthyclintoncounty.org

Status*: Non-Scene Response in Place

Boone County

Contact: Pascal Fettig, pfettig@mhaboonecounty.org

Status*: In Process

Hendricks County

Contact: Deana Carter, loss@mhahc.org

Status*: In Process

Marion County

Contact: Julie Hayden, lossteamindy@mhai.net

Status*: In Process

Johnson County

Contact: Erica Ratz, atlas@upstsreamprevention.org

Status*: Active

Vigo County

Contact: Rachel Reed, info@mhawci.org

Status*: In Process

Clark County

Contact: Elizabeth Gregory, spark@lifespringhealthsystems.org

Status*: Non-Scene Response in Place

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*: In Process

Allen County

Contact: Mel Shade, lossteamfw@gmail.com

Status*: In Process

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.