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New teams help bear grief from tragedies

Link to LOSS/DOSS interest application

YOUNGSTOWN — Families know the pain from suicide and drug overdoses. But treating the grief borne of these tragedies is the goal of two new teams recently formed by the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board.

LOSS (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) and DOSS (Drug Overdose Survivor Support) teams are made of trained first responders, mental health professionals, members of the religious community and other survivors of trauma who volunteer their time to bring support to suicide or overdose survivors.

Lee DeVita, program coordinator for the Mental Health and Recovery Board, said the LOSS / DOSS teams will bring immediate support to those dealing with grief.

“Our trained volunteers are what drives the success of this organization. Their passion and willingness give others the strength and hope to keep moving forward through the darkest times,” said DeVita, the leader of the teams.

The Mahoning County LOSS / DOSS teams are looking for more volunteers from the community who will work to support the organization’s mission. Volunteers will act as responders at a scene to support survivors and will stay with them long after providing resources, writing cards and calling survivors to check in.

Most importantly for those who volunteer, it’s a chance to help those who need it while also finding an outlet for their own grief, Brenda Heidinger, associate director, Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board, said.

“It’s important that our volunteers are dedicated to what they do. For many of them, providing the level of support that they do is just as important to them as it is for those receiving it,” Heidinger said.

The assistance the volunteers provide to those left behind at the scene of a loss can help prevent survivors from attempting suicide themselves or seeking unhealthy coping strategies. The LOSS / DOSS team also offers connections to resources and practical support that encourages help-seeking skills.

“Having someone there who has experienced this first-hand or is trained in dealing with this acting as a responder can mean a world of difference. The volunteers help bring hope to those experiencing the ultimate loss and continue to support them and think about them for as long as necessary,” Duane Piccirilli, executive director of the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board, said.

news@vindy.com

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