Who We Are…
The Barb Smith Suicide Resource & Response Network is a grassroots organization that has been serving Michigan and beyond since 1989. The founder and Executive Director, Barb Smith, used her personal experience of losing her 20-year old brother, John, to suicide to build the organization hoping to find purpose for her pain.
Our team of expert trainers deliver evidence-based prevention trainings to people where they live, work, play, and learn with the hope of destigmatizing suicide, increasing help-seeking behaviors, and caring for those impacted by suicide.

Meet Our Staff




Board of Directors
Craig Voorheis - President
Craig began his involvement with the Suicide Resource and Response Network in 2006 after his Dad died by suicide. At first the involvement was for his own healing by attending the support group. As the healing increased he helped organize the board, did public speaking, and occasionally facilitated the support group. He has a background in small business ownership, a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State’s Eli Broad School of Business, and is a commercial/agricultural insurance specialist for the Emil Rummel Agency.
Greg Dorrien – Vice President
Larry Jacobs – Treasurer
Joan Ford, CHCP – Secretary
Dr. Donald Steele – Board Member
Linda Dorr – Board Member
Joan Cramer – Board Member
Beverlee Wenzel - Board Member
How We Can Help
Barb Smith Suicide Resource and Response Network offers prevention education in any setting. Trainers can be brought into your business, school, recreation, church, or home to provide awareness or evidence based suicide prevention trainings. Additionally, aftercare services are available in the form of a support group, Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors team and Aftercare training for both professionals who care for the bereaved and those who have been impacted by suicide.
Testimonials…
The day I lost my son VJ, life as I knew it changed forever. No hope, peace nor strength. The Barb Smith Suicide Resource and Response Network and the Walk for Hope has given me the strength to live, peace to survive and hope for the future.
After many years of losing my father it was easier to sleep than to find a way to live without him…Barb Smith simply sat and talked about my dads life in a way i hadn’t been able to in years. She helped me find a way out of my dark hole…Barb gave me permission to live in his honor and to focus on who he was in his life and not let his death define me or him.
Last year’s Walk for Hope was so inspiring for me. To be able to speak openly about mental illness and see people find connection and hope in each other–that was a beautiful thing to watch. There was a lot of love being shared that day.
Our community is greatly enriched to have Barb Smith Suicide Resource and Response Network here. As funeral directors, we have seen survivors make it through the first terrible days thanks to the caring and wise council of Barb Smith and the team. Beyond the immediate days following suicide, The Suicide Resource and Response Network continues to help family survivors cope with their loss. The Network has addintionally been a great resource to all of us in helping us serve families of suicide loss.
