Ray of Hope Expands Outreach to Support Families Affected by Overdose Loss

Ray of Hope has broadened its mission to help those mourning the loss of someone to addiction by launching the Drug Overdose Survivor Support (DOSS) team. The initiative extends the group’s survivor outreach to friends and families grieving overdose deaths, providing comfort, understanding, and practical resources during an incredibly painful time.

Three DOSS team members—one of whom has personally lost a loved one to an overdose—will meet with families after a tragedy to offer guidance and empathy. The new effort is modeled after the successful Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) program, which Ray of Hope introduced in June 2023. Both the DOSS and LOSS teams serve families countywide but can also travel to neighboring areas if a Westmoreland County resident dies elsewhere.

For the past three years, trained professionals and suicide-loss survivors have offered on-site and follow-up support to families experiencing the trauma of a suicide. Ray of Hope Chair Heather McLean said both suicides and overdoses leave families facing intense emotional pain.

“The grief is overwhelming, but you can get through it,” McLean said. “Silence kills people. It’s so important for survivors to connect, to talk, to share—that connection can make all the difference.”

The idea for LOSS teams originated with Louisiana coroner and psychologist Dr. Frank Campbell, who recognized how suicide grief isolates loved ones. After attending one of Campbell’s trainings in 2021, McLean saw the need for a similar effort in Westmoreland County. Partnering with then-Coroner Tim Carson, Ray of Hope began dispatching the LOSS team after every suicide to provide on-scene care.

Each LOSS response includes three team members, one of whom is a suicide-loss survivor. Their shared experience helps them quickly build trust with grieving families. The team listens, offers space for open and stigma-free conversation, and brings care packages containing comforting items like blankets, teddy bears, and journals.

The LOSS program’s impact is clear: since its launch, Ray of Hope’s suicide grief support group has grown from fewer than 10 participants to as many as 40. The organization also maintains a card program that sends families notes on key dates—the month of the loss, six months later, during the holidays, and on the loved one’s birthday.

“We’ve had people tell us they weren’t ready to meet with a team right away, but those cards meant the world to them,” McLean said.

Currently, about 168 families receive the cards.

Following a leadership change in the coroner’s office in 2026, the LOSS team now operates independently under Ray of Hope. The county no longer automatically alerts the team to deaths, though the coroner’s office continues distributing a survivor’s resource guide that includes Ray of Hope’s contact information.

McLean acknowledged that not receiving timely notifications has made it harder to reach families right after a tragedy, when support is most critical. Essential information—like recommendations for professional cleaning services—can ease some of the immediate burdens families face.

Ray of Hope maintains a 24/7 hotline for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide or overdose. Those seeking support or wanting to refer someone can call 724-535-1829.

The organization will also host several community events this year, including the 20th annual Ray of Hope Suicide Awareness & Prevention Walk on August 29, 2026, a candlelight vigil, a celebration of life event, and the annual fall conference held the Friday before Thanksgiving.

Ray of Hope operates under the fiscal agency of Mental Health America of Southwestern PA and depends largely on donations, aside from two county-funded positions. Supporters can also purchase the group’s 2026 “Top Dog” therapy dog calendars—spotlighting men’s mental health—for $20 at rayofhopewestmoreland.org, where information about events, support groups, and other programs is also available.