Maria Miller’s graduation from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in May was more than a decade in the making.

Her studies towards her bachelor's degree in criminal justice were interrupted by the deaths of her brother, Harrol Berry, and her son, Courtney Williams. Both men were shot and killed weeks apart in 2014.

In the wake of their deaths, Miller struggled with deep grief and anxiety. The stigma around therapy and a lack of readily available mental health resources made her feel like she couldn’t ask for help, she said.

This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project - St. Louis , a nonprofit news team covering Missouri’s criminal justice systems. Subscribe to their email list , and follow The Marshall Project on Instagram , Reddit and

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