Metro Area LOSS Team
The Kim Foundation, in partnership with the Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition and Region 6 has established a Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Team in the Omaha Metro area.
The Metro Area LOSS Team is based on a nationally-recognized postvention effort to bring immediate support to survivors of suicide. LOSS acts as a first response team when a suicide occurs and works together with law enforcement officers, fire fighters, EMTs, and other first responders.
Members of the LOSS team, which consists of survivor volunteers (persons who have experienced the suicide of a loved one) and mental health professionals, are activated by first response officials to the scene of the suicide and are present to offer resources, support, and sources of hope to the newly bereaved. Team members provide follow up contact with survivors and help coordinate the utilization of services and support groups within the community.
Research has shown that through programs such as LOSS, survivors are not only more likely to seek help for their own emotional response to the suicide, but are also at a significantly reduced risk to attempt or die by suicide themselves.
If you have recently lost someone to suicide and would like a call out from the LOSS team, please contact Colleen Eusterwiemann, Metro Area LOSS Team Coordinator for The Kim Foundation office during business hours at 402-891-6911 or email LOSS@thekimfoundation.org.
How Can You Help?
Have you lost a loved one to suicide? Are you a mental health or other clinician interested in serving those impacted by suicide death? The Metro Area LOSS Team is always growing! Fill out the form below to apply today.
If you or someone you know works in law enforcement in the Region 6 area (Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, Washington, and Dodge counties), we want to partner with you to offer support when a suicide death occurs. Our current partners include Douglas and Sarpy County Sheriff’s offices and the Omaha Police Department. If interested, please contact Sarah Voss via email at LOSS@thekimfoundation.org. Law enforcement partners are provided with a phone line to contact for notification if a suicide death occurs.
Do you know a suicide survivor who is looking to share their story of hope or in need of resources? Contact The Kim Foundation to learn about possible opportunities.
Sign up for The Kim Foundation’s monthly online newsletter to stay up to date on the Metro Area LOSS Team and suicide prevention efforts in our community.
For more information or to refer a loved one, call The Kim Foundation during regular office hours at 402-891-6911 or email LOSS@thekimfoundation.org.
LOSS Team Application
If you have an interest in joining the LOSS Team, please complete the application below. Once the form is submitted, you will be contacted by the Coordinator to schedule an interview. This information will be maintained in a confidential file and will be destroyed once the LOSS Team Member is no longer associated with the LOSS Team.
The commitment to LOSS is a monthly meeting on the first Tuesday from 5:30-7:00 p.m., as well as willingness to be contacted whenever the need for a callout arises. There is not an obligation to attend a specific number of visits per year, but we do ask for openness to respond when you can and be an active member of the team.
For clinicians, please submit your resume by email to LOSS@thekimfoundation.org.