Prof. Erminia Colucci, Ph.D.

Research Interests

Human rights, mental health, suicide prevention, and domestic violence.

Prof. Erminia Colucci is a Professor of Visual Psychology and Global & Cultural Mental Health in the Department of Psychology at Middlesex University London, as well as an Affiliate Professor at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Indonesia. She is known for her contributions to research on human rights, mental health, suicide prevention, and domestic violence. Professor Erminia’s research focuses on the direct experiences of individuals with mental disorders and suicidal behavior, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, among ethnic minority groups, and refugees.

Prof. Erminia integrates art-based and visual methodologies in research and teaching, including participatory visual methods and ethnographic documentary film. This innovative approach has influenced mental health policies and practices in various countries, including Indonesia. Prof. Erminia is the founder of Movie-ment and Aperture, as well as the Co-Chair of the World Association of Cultural Psychiatry SIG in the fields of Arts, Mental Health, and Human Rights.

Prof. Erminia has been appointed as an Affiliate Professor at Gadjah Mada University based on her significant contributions to the development and implementation of mental health policies in Indonesia. Her expertise in using visual methodologies to address mental health and human rights issues, along with her active involvement in community-based projects in Indonesia, makes her a valuable strategic partner in enhancing the quality of research and teaching at UGM.

  • 2024-ongoing: UKRI AHRC ‘Co-creating asset and place-based approaches to tackling refugee and migrant health exclusion’ (36 mo, £2,430,127, Co-I)
  • 2023-ongoing: British Academy International award ‘Writing Workshops on Qualitative and Visual Mental Health Research in Ghana and Indonesia’ (24 mo, £29.940, PI) Qualitative and Visual Mental Health Research in Ghana and Indonesia | The British Academy
  • 2023-ongoing: AHRC Research Networking “Developing a network for mutual learning on the potential of creative arts for mental health advocacy and activism in Ghana and Indonesia” (12 mo, £97,036, Co-I)
  • 2023-ongoing: Colucci, E. AHRC Research Networking “Developing a network for mutual learning on the potential of creative arts for mental health advocacy and activism in Ghana and Indonesia” (18 mo, £97,036, Co-I)
  • 2020-2024: Co-I MRC “A Youth Culturally-adapted Manual Assisted Psychological therapy (Y-CMAP) for adolescent Pakistani patients with a recent history of self-harm” (36 mo, £1,005.739, Co-I and Qualitative stream lead)
  • 2020-2024: UKRI Future leaders ‘Project: Bridging religious studies, gender & development and public health to address domestic violence in religious communities’ (Official mentor, 48 mo) 
  • Setiyawati, D., Puspakesuma, N., Jatmika, W. and Colucci, E. 2024. Indonesian stakeholders’ perspectives on warning signs and beliefs about suicide. Behavioral Sciences. 14 (4). https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040295
  • Colucci, E. 2023. ‘Breaking the chains’: reflections on the making of an ethnographic documentary on human rights violations against people with mental illness in Indonesia. Visual Studies. 39 (3), pp. 307-320. https://doi.org/10.1080/1472586X.2023.2274892
  • Kpobi, L., Read, U., Selormey, R. and Colucci, E. 2024. ‘We are all working toward one goal. We want people to become well’: A visual exploration of what promotes successful collaboration between community mental health workers and healers in Ghana. Transcultural Psychiatry. 61 (1), pp. 30-46. https://doi.org/10.1177/13634615231197998
  • Faruk, M., Khan, A., Chowdhury, K., Jahan, S., Sarker, D., Colucci, E. and Hasan, M. 2023. Mental illness stigma in Bangladesh: Findings from a cross-sectional survey. Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health. 10. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2023.56
  • Onie, S., Vina, A., Taufik, K., Abraham, J., Setiyawati, D., Colucci, E., Nilam, J., Onie, S., Hunt, A., Saputra, A., Hidayati, N., Harsono, C., Bestari, D., Muhdi, N., Wolter, A., Liem, A., Rochmawati, I., Ardian, J., Prasojo, R., Heri Setiawan, Y., Heny, G., Purnawan, H., Gamayanti, I., Senosoenoto, H., Jenarut, M., Prawira, B., Trianggoro, C., Warbung, E., Novita Mudjianto, C., Ariani, A., Irmansyah, I., Mulia, M., Badudu, J., Badudu, M., Kumolohadi, R., Zein, R., Mahadi, S., Wongkaren, T., Josifovski, N. and Larsen, M. 2023. Indonesian first national suicide prevention strategy: key findings from the qualitative situational analysis. The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia. 16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100245
  • Levy-Fenner, E., Colucci, E. and McDonough, S. 2022. Lived experiences of mental health recovery in persons of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds within the Australian context. Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-022-00319-y
  • Colucci, E., Jaroudy, S. and Rossmann, M. 2022. Piloting of a suicide first aid gatekeeper training (online) for children and young people in conflict affected areas in Syria. International Review of Psychiatry. 34 (6), pp. 640-648. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2022.2100245
  • Madill, A., Bhola, P., Colucci, E., Croucher, K., Evans, A. and Graber, R. 2022. How can we mainstream mental health in research engaging the range of Sustainable Development Goals? A theory of change. PLOS Global Public Health. 2 (8), pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000837
  • Colucci, E., Prastyani, A. and Setiyawati, D. 2022. Il ruolo di sacerdoti Camilliani nella cura di persone vittime di pratiche di contenimento e/o reclusione a causa di malattia mentale nell’isola di Flores in Indonesia. Transculturale. 1 (1), pp. 79-87. https://doi.org/10.7413/tran0005
  • Husain, N., Tofique, S., Chaudhry, I., Kiran, T., Taylor, P., Williams, C., Memon, R., Aggarwal, S., Alvi, M., Ananiadou, S., Ansari, M., Aseem, S., Beck, A., Alam, S., Colucci, E., Davidson, K., Edwards, S., Emsley, R., Green, J., Gumber, A., Hawton, K., Jafri, F., Khaliq, A., Mason, T., Mcreath, A., Minhas, A., Naeem, F., Naqvi, H., Noureen, A., Panagioti, M., Patel, A., Poppleton, A., Shiri, T., Simic, M., Sultan, S., Nizami, A., Zadeh, Z., Zafar, S. and Chaudhry, N. 2022. Youth Culturally adapted Manual Assisted Problem Solving Training (YCMAP) in Pakistani adolescent with a history of self-harm: protocol for multicentre clinical and cost-effectiveness randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 12 (5). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056301
  • Setiyawati, D., Jatmika, W., Puspakesuma, N., Retnowati, S. and Colucci, E. 2022. Suicide first aid guidelines for Indonesia: a Delphi consensus study. Journal of Mental Health. 31 (3), pp. 410-431. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2021.2022632
  • Macdonald-Hart, S. and Colucci, E. 2020. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of the experiential perspectives of volunteer befrienders, pertaining to causes of suicidality and prevention. Journal of Suicide Prevention. 2 (1), pp. 15-30.
  • Hansen, S. and Colucci, E. 2020. Towards the development of ethics guidelines for visual psychology: a review of relevant visual research ethics guidelines. Qualitative Methods in Psychology Bulletin. Autumn (30). https://doi.org/10.53841/bpsqmip.2020.1.30.83
  • Prastyani, A., Setiyawati, D. and Colucci, E. 2020. Priests, a grandmother and schizophrenia. Inside Indonesia. 141.
  • Colucci, E. and Lester, D. 2020. A cross-cultural study of attitudes toward suicide among young people in India, Italy and Australia. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. 66 (7), pp. 700-706. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020926551
  • Irmansyah, I., Susanti, H., James, K., Lovell, K., Idaiani, S., Imah, S., Hargiana, G., Keliat, B., Utomo, B., Colucci, E. and Brooks, H. 2020. Civic engagement and mental health system strengthening in Indonesia: a qualitative examination of the views of health professionals and national key stakeholders. BMC Psychiatry. 20 (1), pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02575-3
  • James, K., Brooks, H., Susanti, H., Waddingham, J., Irmansyah, I., Keliat, B., Utomo, B., Rose, D., Colucci, E. and Lovell, K. 2020. Implementing civic engagement within mental health services in South East Asia: a systematic review and realist synthesis of current evidence. International Journal of Mental Health Systems. 14 (1), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-020-00352-z
  • Green, B. and Colucci, E. 2020. Traditional healers’ and biomedical practitioners’ perceptions of collaborative mental healthcare in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Transcultural Psychiatry. 57 (1), pp. 94-107. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363461519894396
  • Susanti, H., James, K., Utomo, B., Keliat, B., Lovell, K., Irmansyah, I., Rose, D., Colucci, E. and Brooks, H. 2020. Exploring the potential use of patient and public involvement to strengthen Indonesian mental health care for people with psychosis: a qualitative exploration of the views of service users and carers. Health Expectations. 23 (2), pp. 377-387. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13007
  • Colucci, E. and McDonough, S. 2019. Recovering from mental illness and suicidal behaviour in a culturally diverse context: the use of digital storytelling in cross-cultural medical humanities and mental health. in: Lo, V., Berry, C. and Liping, G. (ed.) Film and the Chinese Medical Humanities United Kingdom Routledge. pp. 205-225
  • Brooks, H., Irmansyah, I., Susanti, H., Utomo, B., Prawira, B., Iskandar, L., Colucci, E., Keliat, B., James, K., Bee, P., Bell, V. and Lovell, K. 2019. Evaluating the acceptability of a co-produced and co-delivered mental health public engagement festival: Mental Health Matters, Jakarta, Indonesia. Research Involvement and Engagement. 5 (1), pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-019-0161-3
  • Colucci, E. 2019. Afflictions: Steps towards a Visual Psychological Anthropology by Robert Lemelson and Annie Tucker [Book review]. Anthropological Quarterly. 92 (3), pp. 943-948. https://doi.org/10.1353/anq.2019.0050
  • Bulik, K. and Colucci, E. 2019. Refugees, resettlement experiences and mental health: a systematic review of case studies. Jornal Brasileiro de Psiquiatria. 68 (2), pp. 121-132. https://doi.org/10.1590/0047-2085000000235
  • McDonough, S. and Colucci, E. 2019. People of immigrant and refugee background sharing experiences of mental health recovery: reflections and recommendations on using digital storytelling. Visual Communication. https://doi.org/10.1177/1470357218820651
  • Colucci, E., Jorm, A., Kelly, C. and Minas, H. 2018. Suicide first aid guidelines for people from immigrant and refugee backgrounds. Melbourne Mental Health in Multicultural Australia; Global and Cultural Mental Health Unit, Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne; and Mental Health First Aid Australia.
  • Brooks, H., James, K., Irmansyah, I., Keliat, B., Utomo, B., Rose, D., Colucci, E. and Lovell, K. 2018. Exploring the potential of civic engagement to strengthen mental health systems in Indonesia (IGNITE): a study protocol. International Journal of Mental Health Systems. 12 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-018-0227-x
  • Wagani, R. and Colucci, E. 2018. Spirituality and wellbeing in the context of a study on suicide prevention in North India. Religions. 9 (6). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9060183
  • Colucci, E., Jorm, A., Kelly, C. and Minas, H. 2018. Suicide first aid guidelines for assisting persons from immigrant or refugee background: a Delphi study. Advances in Mental Health. 16 (2), pp. 105-116. https://doi.org/10.1080/18387357.2018.1469383
  • Colucci, E. 2018. Reviews: Applied visual anthropology: reflections from the RAI film festival 2017. Anthropology in Action. 25 (1), pp. 49-55. https://doi.org/10.3167/aia.2018.250106
  • Jorm, A., Ross, A. and Colucci, E. 2018. Cross-cultural generalizability of suicide first aid actions: an analysis of agreement across expert consensus studies from a range of countries and cultures. BMC Psychiatry. 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1636-8
  • Cerci, D. and Colucci, E. 2018. Forgiveness in PTSD after man-made traumatic events: a systematic review. Traumatology. 24 (1), pp. 47-54. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000130
  • El Baba, R. and Colucci, E. 2018. Post-traumatic stress disorders, depression, and anxiety in unaccompanied refugee minors exposed to war-related trauma: a systematic review. International Journal of Culture and Mental Health. 11 (2), pp. 194-207. https://doi.org/10.1080/17542863.2017.1355929
  • Colucci, E., Too, L. and Minas, H. 2017. A suicide research agenda for people from immigrant and refugee backgrounds. Death Studies. 41 (8), pp. 502-511. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2017.1332912
  • Wang, D. and Colucci, E. 2017. Should compulsory admission to hospital be part of suicide prevention strategies? BJPsych Bulletin. 41 (3), pp. 169-171. https://doi.org/10.1192/pb.bp.116.055699
  • Colucci, E., Valibhoy, M., Szwarc, J., Kaplan, I. and Minas, H. 2017. Improving access to and engagement with mental health services among young people from refugee backgrounds: service user and provider perspectives. International Journal of Culture and Mental Health. 10 (2), pp. 185-196. https://doi.org/10.1080/17542863.2017.1279674
  • De Silva, S., Colucci, E., Mendis, J., Kelly, C., Jorm, A. and Minas, H. 2016. Suicide first aid guidelines for Sri Lanka: a Delphi consensus study. International Journal of Mental Health Systems. 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-016-0085-3
  • Colucci, E. 2016. Breaking the chains: ethnographic film-making in mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry. 3 (6), pp. 509-510. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30034-7
  • Colucci, E., Minas, H., Szwarc, J., Guerra, C. and Paxton, G. 2015. In or out? Barriers and facilitators to refugee-background young people accessing mental health services. Transcultural Psychiatry. 52 (6), pp. 766-790. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363461515571624
  • Colucci, E., Chopra, P., McDonough, S., Kouzma, N. and Minas, H. 2014. Improving cultural responsiveness in mental health services: development of a consensus around the role of cultural portfolio holders. International Journal of Culture and Mental Health. 7 (3), pp. 339-355. https://doi.org/10.1080/17542863.2013.812130

Under review:

  • British Academy Conference Grant ‘Visual Psychology: The art of using visual methodologies for mental health research’ (£21,761.55, PI)
  • NIHR Global Health Group on self-harm/suicide reduction amongst young people in South-Asia (£ 2.999.582, Co-I)
  • Southeast Asia-UK partnership for improving perinatal mental health (SEAP-PMH) (£ 1.057.271, Co-I)
  • Australia Research Council  ‘Suicide among young refugees: What sociocultural factors matter to them?’
  • EU-COST network on Youth Suicide Prevention (3 years, EU600.000)