Ray of Hope in Partnership with the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office Announces the 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. As an arm of the coroner’s office, 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.

Suicides in Westmoreland County are at an all-time high with 62 in 2022. 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.

Back Row L-R: Heather McLean, Ray of Hope Chair, Karen Egler, Karen Peconi, Coroner Tim Carson, Bobby Tanyer, Melissa Hughes, and Russell Morgan-Deputy Coroner

Front Row L-R: Sue Soltis, Michele Wentzel, Lisa Goldberg-Ray of Hope Coordinator, Cara Shaffer-Deputy Coroner, Steven Whiteman-Deputy Coroner, and Sean Hribal-Deputy Coroner

For more information regarding the Westmoreland County L.O.S.S. Team, please contact Lisa Goldberg at 724-875-2415 or egoldberg@mhaswpa.org