Lincoln/Lancaster Outreach to Survivors of Suicide (LOSS Team)

1. Lincoln/Lancaster Outreach to Survivors of Suicide (LOSS Team) Donald P. Belau, Ph.D. Dave Miers, Ph.D. Michele Phillips www.nelossteam.nebraska.edu

2. Service Area • The Lincoln/Lancaster County LOSS Team serves the city of Lincoln and the counties of Lancaster and Seward. • Also, as requested, the LOSS team has reached out to other communities throughout the state of Nebraska.

3. Today, we are going to address issues that those who are bereaved by suicide often confront. We will be introducing the LOSS team concept and will be open to accepting any questions or feedback at anytime. Contact information may be found at the end of this presentation or on this webpage:www.nelossteam.nebraska.edu

4. . • Suicide interrupts a life & the lives of those around that person!! • The grief that a person experiences when bereaved by suicide is unique unto that individual. • Feelings of despair, loneliness, anger, and a multitude of other emotions that cannot be named or labeled surge into the lives of those who were connected with that person. • Many will find that with support, the chaos & confusion that go with such a loss can move to a path where healing can begin

5. Potential Legacy Issues for Adult Children of Suicide • When in treatment programs, are asked “to look into that suicide of their dad or mom when they were a child”. • Alcohol, Drugs, Relationship issues, and Work problems. • Trust issues and Foreshortened future. • Hyper mature when young, with often prolonged adolescent behavior as adults.

6. Families Needs Following the Death of a Teenager to Suicide • Research conducted by David Miers, PhD, BryanLGH Medical Center. • The purpose of the phenomenological study was to explore the needs families have following the death of a teenager to suicide. • Miers, D., Abbott, D., & Springer, P. R., (in press). Phenomenological study of family needs following the suicide of a teenager. Death Studies

7. Themes #1. Support in the Way of Listening • Listening • Sub theme • Things not to say #2. Support from Another Suicide Survivor • Someone who has lost a family member/friend to suicide themselves

8. Themes #3. Support in Finding Direction • What to do first? • Resources available #4. Support in Seeing Teen • Seeing body before taken away

9. Themes #5. Support in Remembering Teen • Important Dates and Events #6. Support in Giving Back to Others • Opportunities to Give Back

10. LOSS TEAM • The LOSS (the Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors team) provides immediate support to those bereaved by suicide. • LOSS primarily acts as a first response team when a suicide occurs and works together with law enforcement officers, chaplains, and other first responders. They can also provide support in the aftermath of the suicide, sometimes days/weeks later. • LOSS team members often serve as ‘bridges’ to assist newly bereaved to access resources such as support groups.

11. LOSS TEAM • A goal of the LOSS Team is to let those bereaved by suicide know that resources exist as soon as possible following the death. • Resources are often unknown to most individuals bereaved by suicide, but with the LOSS team visit, these resources become more available. • Those that have been bereaved by suicide are able to connect with those LOSS Team members who have experienced losses themselves.

12. LOSS Evidence • Research has shown that those bereaved by suicide can be at 9 times greater risk to complete suicide. • However, with the intervention of a team of individuals composed of clinicians and suicide survivors these individuals can be predicted to seek emotional assistance within months of a completed suicide as compared to years, if at all.

13. Nebraska LOSS Team Develops • A Seed is Planted: • 2005 Annual American Association of SuicidologyMeeting. • Dr. Frank Campbell’s presentation outlining the LOSS program with Donald P. Belau, Ph.D. and David Miers Ph.D. NSSPC Co-Chairs attending.

14. Nebraska LOSS Team Develops • The Seed Takes Root: • January 13, 2006. • Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Committee elected to begin the planning process of adopting the LOSS program in Southeast Nebraska as a pilot project.

15. Nebraska LOSS Team Develops • November 7, 2007--Hope and Healing: A Capacity Building Workshopconducted by Dr. Frank Campbell on at theBryanLGH East. In attending were those bereaved by suicide, mental health professionals, media, and the county attorney’s office.

16. Nebraska LOSS Team Develops • February 29, 2008. • LOSS Team Stakeholder’s Meeting & Follow up Training-Dr. Frank Campbell. • Monthly training commences. • Infrastructure developed. • Lincoln Police Department Chaplains assist in developing the procedures. • Lancaster County Sheriff’s department comes on board.

17. Nebraska LOSS Team Develops • March 2008. • Monthly training for LOSS team members implemented. • Continued recruitment for LOSS team members, and development of Interagency Collaboration. • January 2009. • LOSS Team Development Group organized.

18. Nebraska LOSS Team Develops • May 2009. • Support groups identified—Ray of Hope, etc. • Program Evaluation & support for LOSS Team Members. • July 2009. • LOSS team activated, two active teams, plus reserves in the city of Lincoln. • Chaplain’s Corp agrees to provide critical link between police and the LOSS team.

19. Nebraska LOSS Team Develops • January 2010. • Statewide Teleconference promoting suicide prevention, local coalition development, etc. creates interest in 4 sites across the state in developing a LOSS team. • August 2010. • Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office. • Summer 2011. • Seward County added to teams outreach area.

20. Lincoln/Lancaster LOSS Team Structure • Three person teams: Team leader, team member & clinician.

21. Lincoln/Lancaster LOSS Team Process • Members of the LOSS team, are activated by police chaplains or law enforcement to the scene of the suicide and are present to offer resources, support, and sources of hope to the newly bereaved. • Generally on the scene within 4 to 6 hours once scene is declared a suicide. • Team members additionally provide follow-up contact with those bereaved by suicide and help coordinate the utilization of services and support groups within the community. • If the family does not wish to receive a LOSS team call-out, the team can provide informational materials and an empathy phone call.

22. LOSS Team Experience • July 1, 2009, the LOSS team became active. • Over 20 call outs to date. • Call outs average 45-60 minutes.

23. LOSS Team Experience • Each callout results in an average of 3 follow up calls. • Support groups in the community are seeing survivors attend. • Media is supportive. • Team members are working as a team. • Monthly training/meetings are averaging 80% attendance.

24. Family Response • Families have been overwhelmingly receptive and open towards a LOSS team visit. • Statistics show that families who receive a LOSS team visit seek help within 39 days. versus families who do not receive a LOSS team visit may wait up to 5 years to seek help.

25. Responses to LOSS Team Calls • Because the team member is able to focus on serving others who are bereaved by suicide, this helps the team member to be other-oriented in stead of swallowed by their grief. • When a team member does experience a grief-burst, we have the benefit of the other team members and the clinical director to lean on. • The team member has a sense of pride in that they are doing something constructive to honor their loved one.

26. Effects Upon Team • During debriefing, the LOSS team has the ability to check in with each others emotional well-being and to talk through any personal memories that may have been brought up during the call out. • Each new call out brings with it new circumstances and new challenges and team members have ever new opportunities to grow, learn, develop, and expand in the LOSS program. • Diversity within the LOSS team makes the team exceptionally versatile in adapting to each situation we walk into.

27. LOSS Strengths • Dedicated team members committed to reducing pain & helping survivors to ‘move on’. • Ability to provide immediate support. • Community support. • Law enforcement collaboration. • Ongoing training. • Careful screening. • Focus upon being nonjudgmental, & flexible. • Taking care of one another.

28. POSSIBLE LOSS TEAM OUTCOMES • Monitor the elapsed time between death of a loved one and the survivor seeking help by establishing collaboration with mental health providers in the community in comparing those who receive LOSS services, and those who do not.

29. POSSIBLE LOSS TEAM OUTCOMES • Decrease the stigma associated with being a suicide survivor by offering and providing educational materials, resources, etc. • Increase collaboration with law enforcement, and the faith communities that will allow for identification of possible consumers of the LOSS service. • Viewing a decrease in survivor adjustment issues within the community.

30. LOSS ORGANIZATION CHART NEBRASKA STATE SUICIDE PREVENTION COALITION LOSS DEVELOPMENT GROUP LINCOLN/LANCASTER OUTREACH to SURVIVORS of SUICIDE (LOSS TEAM)

31. LOSS DEVELOPMENT GROUP • The Loss Development Group assists the Nebraska Suicide Prevention Coalition in providing direct supervision and support of the LOSS team. • It works in a collaborative manner with various community partners such as the Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska, BryanLGHMedical Center, Community Mental Health Center of Lancaster County, Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, the Lincoln Police Department Chaplaincy Corps, etc.

32. LOSS DEVELOPMENT GROUP MEMBERSHIP Diverse representation from areas such as: • Co-chairpersons of the Nebraska Suicide Prevention Coalition. • Law enforcement (Lincoln Police Department & Lancaster County Sheriff office).

33. LOSS DEVELOPMENT GROUP MEMBERSHIP • Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska. • Community Mental Health Center of Lancaster County . • Lincoln Police Department Chaplain Corps. • Suicide Survivors. • Suicide Survivor advocates. .

34. LOSS DEVELOPMENT GROUP Monthly meetings 1) Developing the infrastructure necessary to maintain the LOSS team. 2) Screening of prospective LOSS team members. 3) Being a liaison with state/community agencies such as Nebraska Suicide Prevention Coalition, Nebraska Division of Behavioral Health, Lincoln Police Department, Lincoln Chaplains Corps, Lancaster County Attorney, Lancaster County Sheriff.

35. LOSS DEVELOPMENT GROUP 4) Providing ongoing training for the LOSS team. 5) Developing a data collection and evaluation process. 6) Assisting other communities who wish to develop LOSS team interventions models. 7) 5 communities across greater Nebraska are pursuing the development of LOSS effort.

36. National LOSS Conferences • 1stannual in Lincoln May 19-21, 2011. 100+ attended. • 2nd - May 31-June 2, 2012, BryanLGH Medical Center West . • Planning ongoing for future National LOSS Conferences.

37. Discover Channel Video

38. Contact Information • Donald.belau@doane.edu • Dave.miers@bryanlgh.org • Michele.mphillips@yahoo.com www.nelossteam.nebraska.edu www.suicideprevention.nebraska.edu www.youthsuicideprevention.nebraska.edu 1-800-273-TALK(8255)