Pickens County launched a new initiative Wednesday that will send out volunteers to support people in the immediate aftermath of a suicide death. In a partnership with the Half a Sorrow Foundation, the county coroner will provide a Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors, or LOSS, Team as a part of its response cycle.
The county is the first in the state to implement a LOSS team in its response to suicide deaths. Team volunteers will not be present with first responders. They will be sent over to offer support afterward for anyone whose loved one died by suicide.
Volunteers will not be required to be licensed therapists or psychologists. Some have experienced a suicide death in the family and will use their loss to guide support. All volunteers will be trained to console — whether that means listening, offering personal stories, or simply sitting in attentive silence.
Half a Sorrow Foundation Executive Director Dennis Gillan said the survivors will lead the team's response.
"The survivor drives the bus on this. They will let us know what we can do, and we'll be totally respectful of the family," he said. "If you think about it, they may show us the door when we show up."
Gillan said volunteers would ideally be sent out in pairs, at most 48 hours after a death.
Two of Gillan's brothers killed themselves earlier in his life. He said his family had no support system in place to guide them through the deaths, which fueled his want to help other families in similar situations.
"I remember back in 1983, when we lost my older brother Mark, we had no idea what to do. Nobody came to the house. We were floundering," he said. "I believe with all my heart that cost us Matthew — that's my younger brother."
Pickens County Coroner Andrew Wilson said in a statement that the county's work regarding suicide deaths should not stop after an investigation into the death is complete.
"Our responsibility doesn't end when the investigation is complete," Wilson said. "Families affected by suicide need compassionate support, accessible resources, and a community that stands beside them during one of the most difficult times of their lives."
Gillan wants multiple follow-ups from his volunteers after initial visits.
"After any traumatic event, you're in a fog for a while," he said. "Your body's processing what just happened. I can go to a client and explain all the stuff they need to do, but they're not going to hear any of it because of the trauma that comes with the loss of a suicide. We'll follow up, and we'll follow up, and we'll follow up to make sure that they get the right care."
The coroner's office will inform the teams of anybody who needs the assistance. The start of the LOSS Team in Pickens County expands the program to 24 states. Gillan said he's committed to further expansion in the state, but he did not have a clear timeline.
