© 2024 WYPR
WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore WYPF 88.1 FM Frederick WYPO 106.9 FM Ocean City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Complicated Grief: Losing a Loved One to Homicide

Of the 322 murder victims this year in Baltimore City about 90 percent were African American. For the family and friends left behind, losing a loved one to homicide can color the grieving process with shame, blame, and stigma. Survivors may be reluctant to share what happened, fearing that people will assume the deceased was involved in criminal activity. But bottling up feelings of anger and sadness can lead to symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder and other health problems. We take a look a homicide and grief in the African American community with Tanya Sharpe, an associate professor for the University of Maryland School of Social Work, and Kim Holmes, a licensed clinical social worker with the Family Bereavement Center, a program of the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office.

Stay Connected
Sheilah Kast is the host of On The Record, Monday-Friday, 9:30-10:00 am.
Maureen Harvie is Senior Supervising Producer for On the Record. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and joined WYPR in 2014 as an intern for the newsroom. Whether coordinating live election night coverage, capturing the sounds of a roller derby scrimmage, interviewing veterans, or booking local authors, she is always on the lookout for the next story.