Putnam Chosen to Pilot LOSS Team

By Holly Crocco

Putnam is one of only four counties in New York State whose Suicide Prevention Task Force was selected to receive funding earlier this year to develop and pilot a LOSS team (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) to support individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide.

“The goal of the team is to be able to provide timely, empathetic support to folks who have experienced a loss to suicide,” said Paul Tang, Putnam’s director for mental health, at the County Legislature’s July 17 Health Committee meeting.

“Studies have shown the faster that we can get resources and support to people who have experienced such a loss, it significantly decreases the time people were able to receive help and begin their recovery,” he said. “So we’re talking about the difference between years and months.”

The LOSS team made its formal launch at the county’s mental health forum in May. It is co-chaired by Marla Behler, director of the Putnam Child Advocacy Center, and Megan Castellano, homefront executive program director for Guardian Revival. It includes Sara Servadio, commissioner of the departments of mental health, social services and Youth Bureau, as well as Tang, and civilian “peers” who have experience with this type of loss.

“That lived experience is really important, to be able to give that to folks who have also experienced a loss,” said Tang.

While the funding isn’t astronomical – $12,480 for the two-year cycle – he said the task force is proud to have been chosen to pilot this program.

The LOSS team works with loved ones who may fall anywhere on the sphere of impact – which includes exposed, effected, bereaved long-term and bereaved short-term, as well as the impact on first-responders.

“Because our community is small and a loft of our departments are volunteers, this increases the individuals who may be affected,” explained Castellano. “They may go from being exposed to  being more effected or bereaved, whether that be short-term or long-term.”

Data shows that in communities with outreach, such as a LOSS team, the amount of time it takes for loved ones to seek and receive help may decrease from 3.4 years to 47 days.

In Putnam County, based on the five responses the team has been called to this year, it’s even less turnaround time.

“We’ve been able to turn around and care for people in as little as the same day, which has been incredible,” said Castellano. “A lot of that is thanks to the commitment of many of the providers in the community who understand why this work is important, and their support has really been invaluable.”

The funding has allowed the team to rebrand and update the promotional pamphlets and folders the task force provides to loved ones, which includes information on funeral services, cleanup crews, support groups, and other services.

Team members also have “trunk kits,” which are boxes of comfort items such as mints and water, tissues, blankets, pens and paper, and even stuffed animals for situations in which a child is affected, so first responders who arrive on the scene can offer comfort to loved ones.

“A big part of this is support for first responders,” said Behler. “So they can focus on the scene and their investigation, and we can be there to provide the crisis intervention and support to the surviving family members.”

In addition, the team can be available to support those who may have experienced a loss in the past but still needs support.

“There’s no expiration date on grief, and the grief process isn’t necessarily linear,” said Castellano. “So I think as the word starts to get out … we want people to know that we’re here. We want people to reach out for us, even if it’s something they experienced in the past.”

The team also follows up with the first responders who arrived at the scene, to check in their well-being as well.

“This is a great option for people that will need it,” said Legislator Laura Russo, R-Patterson.

Legislator Nancy Montgomery, D-Philipstown, said she’s proud the county is offering such outreach, and acknowledged the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement that has been doing this type of work until this point.

The team is actively recruiting volunteers who have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide to join its ranks. For more information, visit putnamcountyny.gov/hope.