For more information on the Westmoreland County LOSS Team click here: Westmoreland County L.O.S.S. Team – Ray of Hope
To Immediately Connect Directly to the Westmoreland County LOSS Team: 724-535-1829
(Team is on-call 24/7 365)
Westmoreland County
Suicide Fatality Review Board
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 launched in 2025 under the direction of Ray of Hope. The multidisciplinary team does detailed case reviews of suicide deaths in the county with the goal of creating actionable recommendations to prevent future suicide fatalities in Westmoreland County. WC member organizations are Area Agency on Aging, BH/DS, Children’s Bureau, WC Coroner’s Office, Department of Public Safety, Forge Health, Juvenile Probation, Live 4 Tomorrow Today, WC LOSS Team, Native Counseling & Therapy, PA DMVA, PA State Police, Ray of Hope, VA Pittsburgh Health System Suicide Prevention, Westmoreland Community Action, Westmoreland County Crisis Hotline, WCSI, WeDAC, WC DHS-DCRP, WC Faith Leaders, Veterans, and Loss Survivors.
Back Row L-R: Steven Whiteman-Deputy Coroner, Mike Blahovec-Retired Army Col., Commissioner Douglas Chew, Nicole LaVale-Native Counseling & Therapy – LOSS Team Member, Heather McLean-Ray of Hope Chair – LOSS Team Lead – WC SFRB Team Leader, Julie Lovis-WeDAC, Pastor Nick Poole-Calvary Church, Danae Hudock-Children’s Bureau, Milene Maurin-WC AAA, Rev. William Schaefer-Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Dan Merchant-VA Pittsburgh Health System Suicide Prevention, Bobby Tanyer-WC BH/DS – LOSS Team Member
Front Row L-R: Malory Spring-Live 4 Tomorrow Today-LOSS Team Member, Michele Wentzel-Juvenile Probation, Ariel James-Juvenile Probation – LOSS Team Member, Lisa Goldberg-Coordinator: Ray of Hope, LOSS Team, & WC SFRB, Cassandra Hartless-Forge Health, Lori Wiester-WC DHS-DCRP, Caitlin Allen-WCA WC Crisis Hotline – LOSS Team Member, Erin Angellone-WCSI – WC EBH
New Support Group for Moms
who have lost their child to suicide
Veteran Valentine Paint-n-Sip
Friday February 13, 2026
7-9 PM
The Men of Ray of Hope Calendar Fundraiser
Calendars are $20 each. Please see the flyer above for information.
𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: 𝗧𝗵e 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 below 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬. 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀:
To place your order for The Men of Ray of Hope Calendar, click on this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026ROHMEN
Payment Options:
- Cash / Check In Person to Heather or Lisa
- DONATE Button on the Ray of Hope Website
- Venmo to Heather McLean @hmclean180
- Mail Check to “Ray of Hope – MHA-SWPA” 409 Coulter Ave., Greensburg PA 15601
For more information, please contact Lisa Goldberg at egoldberg@mhaswpa.org or 724-875-2415.
Fourth Annual
$1,000 Ray of Hope Scholarship!
Ray of Hope, Westmoreland County’s Suicide Awareness and Prevention Task Force, is proud to announce the Fourth Annual $1,000 Ray of Hope Scholarship to be awarded to one Westmoreland County graduating high school senior in May of 2026. The applicants applying for this scholarship must reside in Westmoreland County and have a passion for and be seeking a degree in the Human Services field. Examples: social work, psychology, behavioral health. Please note: the application will not be considered/processed if the course of study does not meet the Human Service criteria. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 28th, 2026. Click here to download the application: Fillable 2026 Scholarship Application. For more information contact Lisa Goldberg at egoldberg@mhaswpa.org
Abigail Szymanski was the 2025 Ray of Hope $1,000 Scholarship Winner!
Heather McLean, Ray of Hope Chair, and Lisa Goldberg, Ray of Hope Coordinator awarded Abigail Szymanski with her scholarship at Norwin High School’s award ceremony on May 21, 2025. Abigail will be attending the University of Maryland and majoring in Psychology. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Abigail 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲!
If You are in Crisis or Know Someone who is…
Need Help? Call the Crisis Intervention Hotline at 1-800-836-6010. Help is available 24 hours/day, 365 days/year. You’ll be connected with a trained counselor ready to assist you with issues of suicide, depression, and personal crisis. Call 1-800-836-6010 now!
Ray of Hope Suicide Awareness and Prevention Task Force
Ray of Hope is Westmoreland County’s Suicide Awareness and Prevention Task Force. We believe suicide is preventable and that suicide prevention works.
Ray of Hope offers:
- A variety of suicide prevention Services & Programs.
- Activities to raise community awareness, including our Annual Ray of Hope Walk.
Learn about our mission and more on the About Ray of Hope page.
Suicide Survivors Support
If you have lost someone to suicide, the support of your community and of other survivors is available for you. Anger, guilt, confusion, and forgetfulness are common responses to the loss of a loved one, and suicide can add its own unfortunate stigma. Don’t mourn alone; get the help you need to cope.
Visit our Survivors Support page to learn more.
Ray of Hope & Westmoreland County LOSS Team Privacy Policy
Ray of Hope & the Westmoreland County LOSS Team does not share your SMS consent or phone number with third parties or affiliates for marketing purposes.”
Donate Today
Checks should be made payable to "MHA-RoH" and mailed to:
Ray of Hope
c/o Mental Health America of Southwestern PA
409 Coulter Avenue
Greensburg, PA 15601