About the LOSS Team
The Columbiana County LOSS (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) Team offers compassionate, peer-based support to individuals and families who have lost a loved one to suicide. Our team of trained volunteers — many of whom are loss survivors themselves — provides immediate and ongoing support, practical resources, and a listening ear during an incredibly difficult time.
The LOSS Team also serves as the Postvention Committee of the Columbiana County Suicide Prevention Coalition.
But what is postvention?
Postvention is the care and support provided after a suicide, especially to those directly impacted by the loss.
Coined by American psychologist, Edwin Shneidman, in 1972, the term refers to “appropriate and helpful acts that come after a dire event.” The goal of postvention is to help survivors cope with the trauma of suicide loss, reduce their risk of complicated grief or suicide, and foster healing. As Shneidman emphasized, “the largest public health problem is neither the prevention of suicide nor the management of suicide attempts, but the alleviation of the effects of stress in the survivors whose lives are forever altered.”
Our goal is simple: to ensure no one walks through loss alone.
While the LOSS Team’s primary mission is to support survivors of suicide loss, the need for support after other types of traumatic loss is significant. In response to this need, the team also offers tailored support and resources to individuals and families grieving a traumatic death — such as accidental deaths, overdoses, or other sudden, unexpected losses. This care is offered with the same compassion and commitment to walking beside those who are grieving, no matter how they have been impacted.
Request LOSS Team Services or Inquire About Volunteering
Please contact LOSS Team Coordinator, Lynsi Beagle, at:
Email | lbeagle@ccmhrsb.org Main Line | 330-424-0195 Office Phone | 330-424-0195 ext. 108
Loss Resources
We offer resources tailored to specific experiences — suicide loss and traumatic loss — so survivors and support providers can access targeted tools. We invite you to explore the tables below for downloadable resources that may fit your needs. Whether you’re grieving a suicide or traumatic loss — or supporting someone who is — these tools are here to offer guidance, comfort, and connection.
Looking for Suicide Loss Resources?
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Columbiana County LOSS Team Brochure
This downloadable brochure provides an overview of the Columbiana County LOSS (Local Outreach to Survivors of Suicide) Team, including our mission, services, and how we support individuals and families in the aftermath of a suicide loss. It also includes contact information and ways to get involved or request support.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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Dear Loss Survivor Letter
This compassionate letter is provided by the Columbiana County LOSS Team to offer immediate emotional support to those grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide. It acknowledges the overwhelming nature of such a loss and gently introduces the available postvention services, including peer support. Modeled after resources developed by Postvention Consulting LLC, the letter aims to help survivors feel less alone during an unimaginably difficult time.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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Suicide Loss Survivor Resources Booklet - Walking Beside You Through Suicide Loss
This comprehensive booklet is designed to support individuals and families as they navigate the grief and trauma of losing a loved one to suicide. Created by the Columbiana County LOSS Team, it includes practical information, local and national resources, guidance on coping with loss, and messages of hope. The booklet is intended to offer gentle, ongoing support — walking beside survivors as they move forward, one step at a time.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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What Do We Do Now?
This guide offers gentle, step-by-step support for the first days following a suicide loss. It outlines immediate considerations — like reaching out for emotional support, notifying others, making memorial arrangements, and handling practical matters — while encouraging survivors to take things slowly and care for themselves. Adapted from materials by Postvention Consulting LLC, this resource is meant to help loss survivors navigate the earliest moments of grief with compassion and clarity.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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If People Ask, "What Can I Do?"
This practical guide is designed to help loss survivors respond to friends, family, and community members who ask how they can help after a suicide loss. It offers simple ideas and phrasing to empower survivors to communicate their needs, whether emotional, physical, or logistical. Adapted from materials by Postvention Consulting LLC, it ensures that the survivor’s voice is centered while encouraging healthy, supportive connections.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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Suicide Loss Survivors Resource Guide
This guide, published by the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, provides comprehensive support for individuals bereaved by suicide. It offers a mix of survivor-centered information, practical coping strategies, peer and professional support options, and guidance on healing and resilience after loss. By combining evidence-based advice with local Ohio resources, the guide aims to support survivors at every step of their grief journey.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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Surviving a Suicide Loss: Resource and Healing Guide
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Resource and Healing Guide that provides information about coping with loss, the survivor loss community, and resources to help with your journey.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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.png?mh=750&sh=19bf3 "A Handbook for Coping with Suicide Grief (2023 edition)") |
A Handbook for Coping with Suicide Grief
Written by fellow suicide loss survivor Jeffrey Jackson, the booklet is an easy read that offers insight and essential information covering common experiences by those impacted by suicide loss.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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.png?mh=750&sh=51b97 "A Handbook for Survivors of Suicide (2015 edition)") |
A Handbook for Survivors of Suicide
This booklet is “for people who have lost a loved one to suicide, written by someone who has suffered the same loss.” It provides an overview for suicide survivors, addressing topics such as the roller coaster of emotions that make suicide different from the grief of other kinds of deaths.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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Talking to Children About a Suicide
This is a conversation tool resource intended to assist parents, caregivers, and guardians in addressing the topic of suicide with children when it occurs in their community or if they have lost someone to suicide. Although discussing suicide can be challenging, research indicates that these conversations do not increase a child's risk of suicide. On the contrary, open dialogue can provide a valuable learning opportunity. Developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada in collaboration with experts and stakeholders, this guide offers guidance specifically tailored for parents, guardians, and caregivers of children under 12 years old, equipping them with the necessary tools to navigate these sensitive discussions effectively.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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Website Links for Suicide Loss Survivors:
"I've Lost Someone" - https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someone/
"Suicide Loss Support" - https://www.save.org/programs/suicide-loss-support/
"After a Suicide Resource Directory" - https://sprc.org/tools/resources-survivors-suicide-loss/
Looking for Traumatic Loss Resources?
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Pathways to Healing Booklet - Support for Families Experiencing Traumatic Loss
This booklet offers gentle, practical support for families coping with the sudden, traumatic loss of a loved one. It includes information on common grief responses, coping strategies, and ways to care for yourself and others during a time of deep pain. Whether the loss was due to overdose, accident, or violence, Pathways to Healing provides guidance and hope for moving forward, one step at a time.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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The Mourner's Bill of Rights
Created by Dr. Alan Wolfelt, the Mourner’s Bill of Rights affirms that every grieving person has the right to experience and express their grief in their own way and time. This empowering resource helps mourners honor their needs and emotions without guilt or pressure from others.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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Local Grief Supports
This resource highlights grief support options available in the Columbiana County area, including a community grief workshop, a grief camp for children, and faith-based support groups. These programs offer compassionate spaces for individuals and families to process loss, find connection, and begin healing — no matter where they are in their grief journey.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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Recommended Reading
Discover a curated selection of grief books recommended by leading experts in the field. These trusted resources provide compassionate guidance and support for coping with various types of loss, helping you find comfort and healing at your own pace.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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Bereavement Websites
This list includes helpful websites offering grief support, educational materials, and community resources for those coping with the loss of a loved one. Whether you're looking for personal stories, professional guidance, or online support groups, these trusted sites offer a range of tools to help you navigate your healing journey.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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Common Misconceptions about Grief
This resource addresses some of the most common myths and misunderstandings about grief and the grieving process. By providing accurate, compassionate insights, it helps normalize individual experiences of loss and encourages healthier expectations for how we cope, heal, and support others through grief.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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Take Grief's Hand
Based on the guidance of grief expert Dr. Alan Wolfelt, Take Grief’s Hand encourages individuals to actively engage with their grief rather than avoid it. This resource offers compassionate advice for walking alongside grief as a vital part of the healing journey, helping individuals move forward with meaning and hope.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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Helping Children Cope with Grief
This resource offers guidance for supporting children as they navigate the complex emotions that follow the death of a loved one. It includes age-appropriate suggestions, common reactions, and practical tips to help caregivers create a safe, understanding environment where children can express their grief and begin to heal.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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Helping Teenagers Cope with Grief
This guide provides insight into how teenagers may experience and express grief differently than children or adults. It offers practical advice for parents, caregivers, and trusted adults to support teens through their grieving process with empathy, openness, and stability during a time of emotional uncertainty.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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Tips for Survivors: Coping with Grief After a Disaster or Traumatic Event
Access practical, expert-backed advice from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to help survivors navigate grief following disasters or traumatic events. These tips offer strategies to manage emotional challenges and promote healing during difficult times.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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Website Links for Traumatic Loss Survivors:
Grief Resources - https://grief.com/
"I'm Grieving" - https://www.centerforloss.com/grief/grief-mourning-basics/
"Coping with Bereavement and Grief" - https://www.samhsa.gov/communities/coping-bereavement-grief
"For the Grieving" - https://www.missfoundation.org/grieving/
"Childhood Traumatic Grief" - https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/traumatic-grief
Resources for the Faith-Community
Recognizing the crucial role of faith communities in suicide prevention, postvention, and grief support, here are resources for churches and spiritual caregivers:
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Hope: A Guide for Faith Leaders to Help Prevent Youth Suicide
This guide, developed in partnership with the HHS Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, provides faith leaders with guidance for identifying and helping youth who may be at risk for suicide.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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Faith Leaders’ Guide to Self-Care After a Suicide
Following a suicide, faith leaders are frequently sought to offer care and assistance to the deceased person's family, friends, and the broader community. As these leaders assist others along the complex grief journey after a suicide, they may encounter specific stressors and difficulties that impact their own well-being. The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention's Video, Faith Leader's Guide to Self-Care After a Suicide emphasizes the significance of self-care for faith leaders and offers advice on how they can attend to their own well-being following a suicide.
Click the button below to access the video on YouTube:
Watch on YouTube
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Suicide Prevention Competencies for Faith Leaders: Supporting Life Before, During, and After a Suicidal Crisis
This resource, informed by faith community leaders and suicide prevention experts, aims to help equip faith leaders with the capabilities needed to prevent suicide and provide care and comfort for those affected by suicide.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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Best Practices for Faith Leaders in Suicide Postvention
Developed by NAMI New Hampshire, this resource provides suicide postvention guidelines and best practices for faith leaders responding to a suicide death in their community.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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After a Suicide - Recommendations for Religious Services & Other Public Memorial Observances
These recommendations were created to aid members of the clergy and other community and faith leaders as they care for those who have survived the loss of a loved one due to suicide and to assist them in helping to plan a memorial observance. This document provides background information, suggests ways to care for and support survivors, offers recommendations for planning memorial services, and lists additional resources.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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Resources for Funeral Directors
Funeral directors play a vital role in the immediate aftermath of loss. These resources provide them with suicide-awareness and postvention communication tools:
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Difficult Conversations: A Guide for Funeral Directors Addressing Deaths by Suicide
The Minnesota Department of Health developed this guide to provide a resource for Funeral Directors having difficult discussions addressing deaths by suicide.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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Supporting Survivors of Suicide Loss: A Guide for Funeral Directors
This guide offers essential insights and practical guidance to assist funeral directors in understanding the unique needs of individuals in the aftermath of a suicide loss. Developed in collaboration by the Education Development Center (EDC) and Samaritans, Inc., this edition incorporates contributions from funeral directors, psychologists, and survivors of suicide loss.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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Difficult Conversations: A Guide for Funeral Directors Addressing Deaths Due by Drug Overdose
The Minnesota Department of Health developed this guide to provide a resource for Funeral Directors having difficult discussions addressing deaths associated with drug overdose.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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Resources for Schools & Universities
Educators, counselors, and administrators play a vital role in supporting students through grief, trauma, and suicide loss. The resources below are tailored to help schools and campuses respond with compassion, provide postvention support, and promote mental well-being within their communities.
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Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention
This document outlines model policies and best practices for school districts to follow to protect the health and safety of all students. It is critically important that school districts have policies and procedures in place to prevent, assess the risk of, intervene in, and respond to youth suicidal behavior. This document was developed by examining strong local policies, ensuring that they are in line with the latest research in the field of suicide prevention, and identifying
best practices for a national framework. The model is comprehensive, yet the policy language is modular and may be used to draft your own district policy based on the unique needs of your district. The language and concepts covered by this policy are most applicable to middle and high schools (largely because suicide is very rare in elementary school age children).
Click the button below to download a copy:
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.png?mh=750&sh=0050b "After a Suicide - A Toolkit for Schools (2nd Edition)") |
After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools (2nd Edition)
After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools assists schools in implementing a coordinated response to the suicide death of a student. Originally developed in 2011, the second edition includes new information and tools that middle and high schools can use to help the school community cope and reduce suicide risk. The toolkit was developed in collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and in consultation with national experts, including school-based administrators and staff, clinicians, researchers, and crisis response professionals. It is designed primarily for administrators and staff but can also be useful for parents and communities.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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A Suicide Prevention Toolkit - After a Student Suicide
The occurrence of a suicide within a school community has a profound impact on staff, students, and families. Some individuals may find it challenging to deal with the situation, and the entire community may grapple with the appropriate response. In a state of shock, school administrators may feel uncertain about the necessary steps to take. The Centre for Suicide Prevention has created a toolkit, After a Student Suicide, to provide practical guidance to schools in the immediate aftermath, days and weeks that follow a student's suicide.
Click the button below to download a copy:
Download
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Staff Grief After a Suicide
This is a resource for school staff who have been impacted by the suicide death of a young person or colleague. Developed by Be You and Beyond Blue (Australia), this resource provides information on the grief and some of the expected responses to a suicide loss in the workplace. It highlights the importance of self-care, strategies to enhance coping, actions staff can take when supporting colleagues, and guidance on when to seek help.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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Postvention: A Guide for Response to Suicide on College Campuses
Developed by Higher Educational Mental Health Alliance (HEMHA) Project, Postvention: A Guide for Response to Suicide on College Campuses is designed for colleges and universities dealing with or aiming to prepare for campus crises and deaths. It focuses on suicide postvention, emphasizing the importance of predetermined strategies to respond to campus deaths sensitively and highlights the positive impact a well-executed postvention plan can have on prevention. The guide outlines specific areas for consideration and planning, recommending best practices and advocating for an interdisciplinary approach that involves administrators, practitioners, and the broader campus community in planning, coordination, clinical services, communication efforts, and decisions regarding memorials. The goal of the guide is to aid schools in managing the challenging aftermath of a student suicide death, whether through proactive planning or rapid response to an unexpected death. It offers concise and adaptable guidance suitable for a diverse range of higher education institutions to support the community in returning to a normal routine while effectively addressing the complex and sensitive aspects of responding to such a tragic event on a college or university campus.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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Resources for Other Parts of the Community
Grief and suicide loss affect individuals in every corner of the community—including workplaces, veterinary clinics, law enforcement, and beyond. The materials below offer guidance tailored to the unique needs of professionals and organizations that may encounter loss in the course of their work.
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A Manager's Guide to Suicide Postvention in the Workplace
Postvention encompasses psychological first aid, crisis intervention, and additional support provided after a suicide to individuals or the entire workplace, aiming to mitigate the potential negative impact of a suicide loss. A suicide involving an employee is just one scenario that can impact the workplace; the suicide of clients, vendors, or a family member of an employee can also have a profound impact. Managers have a critical role in establishing the atmosphere for how the workplace responds to a suicide. A Manager's Guide to Suicide Postvention in the Workplace outlines 10 action steps for dealing with the aftermath of a suicide. Created by the Workplace Postvention Task Force of the American Association of Suicidology and the Workplace Task Force of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, this guide equips workplace leaders with clear action steps for suicide postvention, encompassing immediate, short-term, and long-term responses to assist employees in navigating the aftermath of this traumatic event.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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Sample Workplace Postvention Policy
An example of a postvention policy businesses can put in place to benefit their employees and their workplace in the wake of a suicide loss.
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A Construction Industry Blueprint: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has identified the construction industry among the top nine occupations with the highest risk for suicide. This guide supports construction executives around the world in making suicide prevention a health and safety priority.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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After a Suicide: A Guide for Veterinary Workplaces
Created by experts in veterinary medicine, suicide prevention, and survivors of suicide loss, After a Suicide: A Guide for Veterinary Workplaces provides best practices for immediate response to a suicide, advice on helping the community grieve and cope over time, tips for engaging with media and community partners, and guidance on safely memorializing employees and supporting vulnerable community members to reduce the risk of suicide contagion. Created by The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in partnership with the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA), and the Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE). This guide will help support veterinary workplaces in the aftermath of an employee’s death by suicide.
Click the button below to download a copy:
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After a Suicide in Blue: A Guide for Law Enforcement Agencies
The sudden and tragic suicide of a law enforcement officer can be devastating, leaving the department, family, and loved ones in shock. In order to provide the necessary support during this difficult time, it is crucial for the executive level and command staff to know how to respond effectively. However, without access to reliable research and evidence-based strategies, it can be challenging to determine the appropriate course of action. Developed by the International Association of Chiefs of Polices, National Officer Safety Initiatives, EDC Learning Transforms Lives, and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, After a Suicide in Blue: A Guide for Law Enforcement Agencies aims to address this issue by outlining best practices in suicide prevention. It offers guidance on immediate steps to take after a suicide loss and suggests support services that should be made available in the long term.
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A Guide for Early Responders Supporting Survivors Bereaved by Suicide
Developed by the Winnipeg Suicide Prevention Network, A Guide for Early Responders Supporting Survivors Bereaved by Suicide, is primarily designed for early responders such as police, ambulance personnel, firefighters, emergency personnel, health care providers, spiritual care providers, medical investigators, and funeral directors, all of whom frequently have close and immediate contact with individuals bereaved by a suicide loss. However, it is noted that other service providers may also find the information helpful in their work. The guide aims to provide information about suicide loss, serving as a valuable resource that can validate and enhance the existing supportive actions taken by professionals. Additionally, it may offer new insights and guidance on suicide alertness, emphasizing prevention and intervention resources, given the increased risk of suicide among survivors of such losses.
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Resources for Individuals Struggling with Thoughts of Suicide or Who Have Survived an Attempt
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or have survived a suicide attempt, you are not alone — and help is available. The resources below are designed to support you with understanding, hope, and guidance as you navigate the path toward healing and recovery.
If you need immediate support:
You matter, and support is here whenever you're ready.
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Talk Away The Dark
A #RealConvo Guide from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Talk Away The Dark provides straightforward guidance for having a conversation that can make all the difference.
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A Journey Toward Health & Hope - A Handbook for Recovery After A Suicide Attempt
Created by SAMHSA, this handbook assists individuals in taking initial steps towards recovery, hope and healing following a suicide attempt. It incorporates firsthand accounts from survivors and offers strategies and resources for recovery, including rebuilding connections, creating a safety plan, finding counselling support, and moving towards a hopeful future.
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After an Attempt - A Guide for Taking Care of Yourself After Your Treatment in the Emergency DepartmentOriginally developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness in partnership with the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians, this 7-page brochure provides practical information regarding treatment and follow-up for those seen in a hospital emergency department after a suicide attempt. It was revised in 2018.
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After an Attempt - A Guide for Taking Care of Your Family Member after Treatment in the Emergency Department
Originally developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness in partnership with the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, and endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians, this 9-page brochure provides family members of those who’ve attempted suicide with practical information regarding the likely assessment, treatment, and follow-up the family member will receive during and after their visit to the emergency department. It was revised in 2018.
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We hope these resources offer meaningful support when you need it most.
Whether you're navigating a personal loss or supporting others through grief, these materials are designed to meet the unique needs of individuals, families, and professionals across many settings — including schools, workplaces, faith communities, first responders, and more.
Don't see what you're looking for?
Please reach out to LOSS Team Coordinator, Lynsi Beagle to discuss your needs.
Email | lbeagle@ccmhrsb.org Main Line | 330-424-0195 Office Phone | 330-424-0195 ext. 108