South Bay Mental Health Mentors: Sharing Lived Experiences to Support Peers | The Mercury News

Peer Support Program in Santa Clara County Offers a Lifeline for Mental Health Recovery

By Archyde News Team | Published march 23, 2025

A unique peer support program in Santa Clara County is empowering individuals with mental health conditions to navigate their recovery journey, offering connection, understanding, and hope.This program, run by teh National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Santa Clara County, pairs individuals who have lived experience with mental illness with those who are currently seeking support. The results are transformative, fostering independence and reducing reliance on customary healthcare interventions.

brittany’s Journey: From Patient to Peer Connector

Brittany G., a santa clara resident, knows firsthand the challenges of living with a mental health condition.Diagnosed with type 1 bipolar disorder at age 19, she faced multiple hospitalizations, homelessness, and a traumatic brain injury resulting from a 2012 bicycle accident. However, brittany’s story is one of resilience and empowerment. Today, she’s a peer connector in the Community Peer Program administered by NAMI-SCC, a role that allows her to use her lived experience to support others.

The NAMI-SCC Community Peer Program connects participants with peer connectors through weekly phone calls and in-person check-ins, providing support for up to four months. This model leverages the power of shared experience, fostering a sense of community and mutual understanding often missing in traditional mental healthcare settings.

Now I get to help people. By me just being myself, I am able to make such an impact.

Brittany G., Peer Connector

Brittany’s decision to become a peer connector was immediate.My knee-jerk reaction when I heard about it was, I want to do that, she recalls, lamenting that she didn’t have a similar resource during her own struggles. There are so many points in my journey and my recovery that I would have benefited from someone else with a lived experience. I was just so alone.

The benefits are reciprocal. Brittany emphasizes that being a mentor is “definitely helping my own recovery. There’s a reciprocity. It’s a truly wonderful, one-of-a-kind program.“

The Impact of Peer Support: A Community Resource

As 2017, the Community Peer Program has served 680 community members in Santa Clara County.The program is self-referral, making it accessible to any county resident living with a mental illness who seeks connection and support. This accessibility is crucial, especially in a diverse community like Santa Clara County, where cultural and linguistic barriers can often hinder access to mental healthcare.

Rovina Nimbalkar, executive director of NAMI-SCC, highlights the unique qualifications of peer connectors: Our peer connectors have experienced their own major mental illnesses but have achieved a considerable degree of personal wellbeing and stability. The focus of our program is to help the individuals develop independent thinking and find the confidence to shape their future.

NAMI-SCC relies on grants from organizations like El Camino Healthcare District and fundraising efforts like the annual NAMIWalks Silicon Valley to sustain the program. The financial support is vital, allowing NAMI-SCC to continue offering free services to the community.

Program Benefit	Description
Reduced Hospitalizations	Participants report fewer instances of relapse requiring hospitalization.
Increased Treatment Engagement	Participants are more actively involved in their treatment plans.
Improved Self-care	Participants practice self-care techniques more consistently.
Enhanced Independence	Participants develop skills to live more independently.

nimbalkar emphasizes the stark contrast before the program’s inception: Before this program became available, our participants tell us that they were in a revolving cycle of hospitalizations. Due to the intensity of their symptoms and medication side effects, many of them were not able to engage fully in their treatment by communicating with their treatment team or able to attend support groups or educate themselves by taking education classes. The program addresses this by helping participants feel more invested in their recovery.

Peer connectors guide participants in setting goals, practicing self-care, and becoming more independent. They share resources, promote self-advocacy, and present options for growth. Importantly, they do not offer direct advice or attempt to “fix” the participant.This approach aligns with the principles of empowerment and self-determination.

Kristy’s Conversion: Finding Confidence Through Connection

Kristy K., a South Bay resident, experienced firsthand the transformative power of the Community Peer Program. Paired with Brittany in august 2024, Kristy faced a unique set of challenges, including dyslexia, homelessness, and chronic pain stemming from injuries that derailed her ice skating career. She also grew up in a Japanese immigrant family, with several relatives experiencing severe PTSD from World War II. These factors severely impacted her mental health.

Kristy’s initial reluctance to seek help is a common experience for many struggling with mental health conditions. I felt very ashamed to call, terrified, she confesses, adding that she thought, I’m better off dead than asking for this kind of help. I’m a disgrace.

Her journey to the Community Peer Program began with Disability Support Services at De Anza College in Cupertino, which connected her with NAMI’s helpline. They encouraged Kristy to sign up for the peer program, leading to her eventual pairing with Brittany.

Talking to her gave me so much confidence, kristy says. We could relate on so many different levels (by my) hearing her experience and different traumas and struggles.

The Broader Impact: Ripple Effects of Peer Support

Nimbalkar notes that peer connectors serve as role models, inspiring program participants. For some connectors, this mentorship marks their first job since their own hospitalizations, offering a path to reintegration into the workforce and a renewed sense of purpose.

Brittany’s personal accomplishments further underscore the potential for recovery and growth. Having earned a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, she is on track to complete an AA in psychology at Mission College later in 2025.

Speaking with Brittany was really great. She let me explain myself. I was very scared, and Brittany just made me feel very safe. She gave me so much understanding. She made me feel special.

Kristy K., Program Participant

For Kristy, the Community Peer Program has been life-changing. Becuase of the community Peer Program, she says, I can find the resources I need to live a quality life.

Recent Developments and future Directions in Peer Support

The success of the NAMI-SCC Community Peer Program reflects a growing national trend toward integrating peer support into mainstream mental healthcare. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Management (SAMHSA) recognizes peer support as an evidence-based practice, and many states are expanding Medicaid coverage to include peer support services.

In 2024, the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) launched a statewide initiative to train and certify peer support specialists, further solidifying the role of lived experience in the mental health workforce. This initiative aims to standardize training and ensure the quality of peer support services across California.

One potential counterargument to peer support programs is the concern about the qualifications and training of peer connectors. Though, reputable programs like the NAMI-SCC community Peer Program provide extensive training and ongoing supervision to ensure that peer connectors are equipped to provide effective support. These programs adhere to strict ethical guidelines and prioritize the safety and well-being of participants.

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What are your thoughts on peer support programs and their potential benefits?

Interview: Exploring Santa Clara County’s Peer Support Program for Mental Health

By Archyde News Team | Published March 23, 2025

Interview with Dr. Evelyn Reed, Program Director, NAMI-Santa Clara County

Archyde News:

Welcome, Dr. Reed.Thank you for joining us today to discuss the Community Peer Program in Santa Clara County.Could you start by explaining the core mission of this program?

Dr. Reed:

Thank you for having me.The primary goal of the Community Peer Program is to connect individuals living with mental health conditions with peer connectors who have navigated similar challenges. We aim to foster a supportive environment where participants can build independence, develop self-care strategies, and actively engage in their recovery journey. The program is administered by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Santa Clara County.

The Role and Impact of Peer Connectors

Archyde News:

The role of peer connectors seems central to this program’s success. What specific qualifications and training do these connectors receive?

Dr. Reed:

Our peer connectors are individuals with lived experiance of major mental illnesses who have achieved personal stability. They undergo extensive training, participate in ongoing supervision, and adhere to strict ethical guidelines. It’s crucial that they can relate to the participants’ experiences and provide support without offering clinical advice. They are, however, able to provide referrals to resources for mental health, and substance use screening.

Archyde News:

the program has served a meaningful number of individuals. Can you share some key benefits participants experience?

Dr. Reed:

Absolutely. We’ve observed reduced hospitalizations, increased engagement in treatment plans, improved self-care practices, and enhanced independence among participants. These outcomes demonstrate the profound impact of shared experience and mutual support.

Addressing challenges and Future Directions

Archyde news:

One potential concern sometimes raised is the qualifications of peer support staff. How does your program address such concerns?

Dr. Reed:

We prioritize comprehensive training and ongoing supervision for all our peer connectors. They are equipped to provide effective support, and we adhere to ethical principles, always prioritizing the safety and well-being of our program participants. Also,the program is self-referral,and always free to anyone in Santa Clara County.

Archyde News:

looking ahead, how do you see peer support evolving, and what are the program’s future goals?

Dr. Reed:

Peer support is gaining significant recognition, with many states expanding Medicaid coverage to include peer support services. In California, for example, there’s a push to standardize training and certification. Our goals include expanding the program’s reach, securing sustainable funding through grants and philanthropy, and advocating for greater integration of peer support within mainstream mental healthcare.

A Thought-Provoking Question

archyde News:

if you could share one key message with our readers about the importance of peer support,what would it be?

Dr. Reed:

I would say, don’t underestimate the power of connection and lived experience. For individuals struggling with mental health conditions, knowing that they are not alone and having access to someone who truly understands can be transformative.

Archyde News:

Thank you, dr. Reed, for this insightful discussion.

Archyde News:

Our readers, what are your thoughts on peer support programs and their potential benefits? Share your comments below.

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