Thursday, 30 October 2025 Domestic Violence and Mental Health: Culture, Stigma, and Resilience

As part of the next Tea Talk with a Psychologist at UP FAMNIT, we will host Prof. Dr. Erminia Colucci, a psychologist, researcher, filmmaker, and activist, and Professor of Visual Psychology and Cultural & Global Mental Health at Middlesex University London.

Her work bridges visual psychology, art, and mental health, focusing on cultural aspects of mental health, suicide prevention, human rights, social justice, prevention of domestic violence, inclusion of people with lived experience of mental health issues, and the mental health of ethnic minorities and refugees.

During the session, we will watch her ethnographic documentary film “Chocolates & Roses: Breaking the Silence about Domestic Violence in the Philippines”, which, through the personal stories of women from different social backgrounds, reveals the realities of domestic violence and the influence of social norms, stigma, and legal frameworks on the mental health and suicidal behaviour of survivors.

The film not only portrays suffering but also tells stories of strength and resilience – of individuals and communities who, through courage, connection, and perseverance, break the silence and build paths toward recovery .

After the screening, an interactive Q&A with Prof. Dr. Colucci will follow, where we will reflect together on how, as individuals and as a community, we can turn silence into spaces of empowerment and growth.

The film and the Q&A session will be held in English/with English subtitles.