Mental Health in the Church and the Face of Mercy — with Micole Amalu

Season 4, Episode 21 | Originally aired on May 10, 2022

Micole Amalu is the founder of the nonprofit organization The Face of Mercy.

Episode description

“There’s something they have to offer from the struggles and the shape of their lives that the Church needs.” During her time as a campus missionary, Micole Amalu found herself journeying with students who struggled with their mental health, and helped them in their journey of healing. These experiences as well as her own journey led her to start The Face of Mercy, a nonprofit organization that aims to help provide mental health advocacy and education in the Church. In this episode, Micole and I talk about the experiences that helped her see this need, how The Face of Mercy carries out this mission, and what we as a Church can do to support others struggling with their mental health.

Listen to the episode

Meet Micole Amalu

Micole Amalu is the founder and director of The Face of Mercy, a non-profit dedicated to mental health advocacy and education in the Church. This mission brings together her own struggles with mental illness, an educational background in psychology, and her passion for helping the Church love better! Her big, audacious goal in this work is to create psychoeducational trainings that become the standard for every parish and lay ministry, so that every church community is equipped to welcome and support those living with mental illness. She is passionate about authentic community, and loves hosting Sunday dinners with her husband in Virginia to facilitate that. Her favorite things include re-watching tv shows, fuzzy blankets, bourbon, and her puppy Genesis.

Links:

• The Face of Mercy website: thefaceofmercy.org

• Instagram: @thefaceofmercy

• Micole mentioned the book I Believe in Love by Fr. Jean D'Elbee

• Micole also mentioned Brene Brown in this episode. Check out this TED Talk from Brene Brown, "Listening to Shame".

Additional resources:

• Sanctuary Mental Health Course for Catholics

• The Human Condition Community

• Crisis Services Canada: Help is available 24/7/365 by calling 1.833.456.4566

• USA National Suicide Prevention Hotline: Help is available 24/7 by calling 800-273-TALK (8255)

• The Catholic Trojan Podcast: I had a chance to talk about mental health in the Church on this podcast interview.

• Check out some of the other The Feminine Genius Podcast episodes that touch on mental health, including:

  • Chenele Shaw

  • Sr. Josephine Garrett

  • Regina Boyd

  • Maribel Laguna