Wednesday, 12 November 2025 Tea Talk with Psychologists: A movie afternoon on breaking the silence about domestic violence

We successfully concluded another Tea with Psychologists, this time in a slightly different format – as a movie afternoon. We watched the ethnographic documentary “Chocolates & Roses: Breaking the Silence about Domestic Violence in the Philippines”, which, through personal stories of women from various social backgrounds, reveals the reality of domestic violence and explores how social norms, stigma, and legal systems affect the mental health and suicidal behavior of survivors.

The film was created by our guest, Prof. Dr. Erminia Colucci – psychologist, researcher, filmmaker, and activist, who works as a Professor of Visual Psychology and Cultural and Global Mental Health at Middlesex University in London. Her work brings together art, visual storytelling, and psychology, with a special focus on the cultural aspects of mental health, suicide prevention, human rights, social justice, and the inclusion of people with lived experience of mental distress.

The film tells not only a story of pain and struggle but also one of strength and resilience – of women and communities who, through courage, connection, and perseverance, break the silence and create paths toward recovery.