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Park County council starts work on 'loss survivor' packet, reaches out to regional grief supports
Summary
Council members discussed creating a packet for people bereaved by suicide, assembling materials from AFSP and other groups, and reaching out to Tamarack grief support (Missoula) and local help centers to advise on readiness and funding needs.
Members of the Park County Local Mental Health Advisory Council discussed plans on May 15 for a resource packet aimed at people bereaved by suicide and for local grief-support readiness.
"The idea of putting together a loss survivor packet'... for people who have suicide in their family because people don't know what to say to them," said Erica Strickland, a council member, describing the packet's purpose to reduce isolation for survivors. She said the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has materials that could be included.
Laurie Bishop, a council member who has been doing outreach, said she contacted Tamarack grief support in Missoula to ask whether the group could share experience and guidance on program design and potential funding. "They have offered to just sort of provide support or on brief support in the past," Bishop said; she added she was trying to schedule a meeting for the week of June 23.
Council members discussed forming a small working group or committee to develop packet content, gather survivor input and consult existing materials from AFSP and other national or regional programs. Members said they would also consult the local help center and survivors the council has previously worked with to shape materials and identify funding needs.
No formal committee motion or vote was taken at the May 15 meeting. Council members agreed to continue outreach, plan a readiness conversation with Tamarack and the help center, and return with updates at the June meeting.
Background: The packet is intended to be a practical resource for family members and others who want guidance on supporting someone bereaved by suicide. The council emphasized survivor input and consultation with established grief-support organizations as part of the development process.
