Abstract
This study investigates the social support for homicide victims’ families. A qualitative approach based on narrative analysis was undertaken. Interviews were conducted with family members of homicide victims living in areas of intense armed violence in São Gonçalo city, Rio de Janeiro. The analysis indicated that family members recognize different types of support, mainly from their informal network (family members, friendship and neighborhood). However, they feel helpless, as the support received does not meet their expectations and needs. The recurring traumatic events related to criminal and police violence have an impact on the solidarity mechanisms in the neighborhood, contributing to the construction of an atmosphere of distrust among community members with implications for the constitution of a support network for homicide victims’ families. It is concluded that the construction of care strategies for people impacted by homicide and even the break with the reproductive processes of this lethal violence in society are possible only through the integrated action between formal and informal systems that work in an articulated way constituting an effective social support network.
Keywords:
Homicide; Violence; Family; Social support; Social support network