The Role of Mindfulness in Personal and Community Health with Alison McIntyre

The Mindfulness Monday Podcast

Join me, Carly Jean Puch, on Mindfulness Monday, as we explore the transformative power of mindfulness in our lives and communities. In our latest conversation, Alison McIntyre, Director of Cook County Public Health and Human Services, shares her expertise on integrating mindfulness into community work and professional services. Together, we unpack the role of the Local Mental Health Advisory Council in fostering mental well-being and how simple, accessible mindfulness techniques like attention to breath can be a lifeline in managing life's stresses. Listen in as we challenge misconceptions about mindfulness and underscore its relevance in our everyday existence.

In this episode, we also discuss the vital connection between individual mental health and the health of our community as a whole. Drawing from personal experiences and examples, I highlight the concept of community care and its capacity to create nurturing environments that go beyond the often-isolated nature of self-care. As we examine the importance of mindful leadership and the innate wholeness that mindfulness brings us back to, Alison extends an invitation to engage with local mental health initiatives. Tune in for an enriching dialogue that promises to empower you with mindfulness tools, offering insights into how they can enhance both personal growth and communal harmony.

Guest Bio: Alison McIntyre is the Director of Public Health and Human Services for Cook County, Minnesota. She holds a BA in English and Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College and a Master of Public Affairs and Certificate in Human Services Leadership from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Her graduate research focused on co-creating community care and integration of mind/body practice within health, school, and other service contexts. Alison is also a graduate of Svalja’s House of the Gathering Yoga School Trauma Conscious dual certificate yoga teacher training program. She has continued studies and certification in Yin yoga and embodied dreamwork. Above all else, Alison is the parent of two amazing children aged 10 and 3.