To Connect Directly to the LOSS/DOSS Team: 724-535-1829
(Team is on-call 24/7 365)
For more information regarding the Westmoreland County LOSS/DOSS Team, please contact Lisa Goldberg at 724-875-2415 or egoldberg@mhaswpa.org
Ray of Hope’s
Westmoreland County L.O.S.S. Team
L.O.S.S. stands for Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors. This team has been trained to make an emergent response when there is a suicide in the county. The team is dispatched to offer the family comfort, support, and resources. The key team members are suicide loss survivors themselves to connect with the newly bereaved and let them know that they are not alone and to instill hope.
Suicide Loss Survivors are 4 times more likely to die by suicide themselves. Studies have proven that the sooner you reach those survivors to connect with them and connect them to resources – lives can be saved. Only the 2nd L.O.S.S. Team in the state of Pennsylvania, these team members have committed themselves to making a difference in Westmoreland County.
Ray of Hope Adds Drug Overdose Survivor Support
(DOSS) to the existing Westmoreland County LOSS Team
The Westmoreland County LOSS Team, (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) is now adding a DOSS Team, Drug Overdose Survivor Support. The Westmoreland County LOSS Team began responding to suicide loss in June of 2023. There was always a hope of adding a DOSS Team. We have reached hundreds of families with our efforts so far.
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 to those left behind. Their presence helps reduce isolation, dispel stigma, and connect survivors with ongoing care during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
Suicide and overdose deaths leave a deep and lasting impact—not only on the individual who dies, but on families, friends, and entire communities left to grieve and search for answers. In the aftermath of such a loss, timely and compassionate support can make a critical difference. That is why local LOSS/DOSS Teams are so essential.
Research and lived experience show that suicide survivors are themselves at increased risk for complicated grief, depression, and suicidal thoughts. LOSS/DOSS Teams provide a bridge—meeting people where they are, when they need it most, and reminding them they are not alone.
Continued LOSS Team outreach is not just compassionate, it is preventive. By caring for survivors, we strengthen our community’s overall mental health and take meaningful steps toward reducing future loss.
With the changing of our county coroner in 2026, the Westmoreland County LOSS Team will now function as an independent team under the Ray of Hope. Our team can now be dispatched from any first responder and community member. We have a call system in place that is answered 24/7. The number is (724) 535-1829. The team is equipped for emergent on-scene responses and also delayed responses. If you or someone you know is struggling with the experience of the loss of a loved one to suicide or overdose, please reach out.
To Connect Directly to the LOSS/DOSS Team: 724-535-1829
(Team is on-call 24/7 365)
For more information regarding the Westmoreland County LOSS/DOSS Team, please contact Lisa Goldberg at 724-875-2415 or egoldberg@mhaswpa.org
PHOTO: March 2025
Back Row L-R: Bobby Tanyer, Susan Patrick Harris, Teri Painter, Robin White, Steve White, Ariel James, Tricia Bradley, Daniel Spring, Nicole LaVale, Karen Peconi, Cassie Rohm, Cara Shaffer-Deputy Coroner, Samantha Schoen, Heather McLean-Ray of Hope Chair, Steven Whiteman-Deputy Coroner, James Coffman-Second Deputy Coroner, and Russell Morgan-Deputy Coroner
Front Row L-R: Beth Deni, Sue Soltis, Malory Spring Elizabeth Harris, Laura Kowalik, and Michelle Brant
Not pictured: Caitlin Allen, Desiree Binda Marshall, Tiffany Blakeney, Jennifer Cochran, Sandra Elliott, Lisa Goldberg-Ray of Hope Coordinator, Melissa Hughes, William Kemerer, and Jennifer Macioce