Peer Support Recovery and Leadership Programming in Mental Health Recovery Build Tomorrow’s Community Leaders
Jesse Shaw’s mental health recovery story reflects how lived experience can become a source of peer support recovery and advocacy that empowers others on similar journeys.
A Journey Fueled by Lived Experience
As we celebrate Interim’s 50th anniversary, we are proud to highlight Jesse Shaw—Wellness Navigator and Assistant Peer Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator for Success Over Stigma. Jesse’s lived experience with mental illness and substance use has shaped not only his personal recovery but also his leadership in amplifying the voices of others navigating similar paths.
A Journey Fueled by Lived Experience
Jesse’s story begins in a home where substance use was normalized and mental illness went unspoken. “We didn’t talk about mental health growing up. There was a lot of stigma around it,” he recalls. By age 12, Jesse had started using substances. Years later, after a suicide attempt in his mid-20s, he spent several weeks in a hospital behavioral health unit—a turning point in his life.
“There was an occupational therapist that would come by… and I loved it. I looked forward to it every day.” Before he was discharged, she told him, “You belong in the mental health field.”
That encouragement changed the course of his life. After several years of healing and reflection, Jesse became a crisis residential counselor, and later, joined Interim in December 2023. “The more and more I learned, the more and more I was amazed at all they offered… a giant net of support.”
Through his work with peer support recovery programs and advocacy efforts, Jesse embodies the power of shared experience in fostering healing and community leadership.
By integrating mental health peer advocacy into everyday services, Interim’s approach supports holistic recovery and amplifies client voices in meaningful community spaces.
Living the Model: Connection, Choice, and Dignity
Interim’s service model is grounded in social rehabilitation principles that promote recovery, community involvement, and self-determination. The agency offers a broad continuum of housing and behavioral health services—designed not only to stabilize, but to empower. Peer support and wraparound care are not add-ons—they’re embedded into every program.
Jesse sees that commitment come to life in his daily work. “Interim provides all kinds of wraparound services… it is just incredible to see.” More importantly, Jesse found a workplace where his own experience was not a barrier, but a strength. “More than a quarter of the staff have lived experience. That was huge for me. I loved that.”
He now shares that lived experience openly with clients. “Since I’ve been [at] Interim, I share my diagnosis as part of my providing services… I’ve had so much better rapport with my clients since I’ve been able to share.”
Peer-Led Programs That Inspire Change
Jesse works out of the OMNI Resource Center, where he helps lead Success Over Stigma—a program that trains clients to speak publicly about their recovery. “Some people are brand new to mental health recovery. Some are 30, 40 years [into it]. But what I do is I help coach them to share their story.”
He often accompanies speakers to high schools, colleges, and law enforcement trainings across Monterey County. One presentation left a lasting impression: “We had a bunch of students—I think it was like nine or ten—raise their hand and share their own diagnosis. The fact that we created a space that felt safe enough to do that was really inspiring to me.”
Peer-Based Leadership and Community Advocacy
Interim’s approach goes beyond clinical care. Clients are not just service recipients—they are contributors, advocates, and experts in their own recovery. Jesse puts this philosophy into practice through his leadership of two peer-led initiatives:
- Recovery Task Force: A monthly forum open to anyone connected to Interim, including staff, clients, and behavioral health officials. “We talk about what’s going on in our county in mental health… and we get to talk directly to [quality assurance officers]. That’s huge. So many times, if a client has an issue, it has to go through this whole web… a lot of times things fall in the cracks or they get diluted.”
- Peer Advisory Council: Composed entirely of residents from Interim housing programs, the council meets regularly to discuss program needs and resident concerns. Jesse serves as the sole staff member. “It’s a nice, safe space for them to talk about what’s going on… anything they approve on their notes, I send directly to our Executive Director, which is huge.”
These groups reflect Interim’s commitment to shared power and client-driven change. As Jesse puts it: “We don’t speak for people. We provide them a space and the tools they need to advocate for themselves.”
Confidence on New Stages
Jesse’s work continues to evolve. In April, he was invited to speak on a panel at the Lead Me Home Summit on Homelessness in Salinas. “I never thought I’d be there,” he says. “It was amazing.”
At OMNI, he facilitates peer support groups on a wide range of topics—from coping strategies to what comfort looks like. “People are so grateful that I’m there,” he shares. “That feels really, really good.”
Supporting others is central to his own recovery. “Every day I get to do that. It’s part of my healing, too.”
A Vision for the Next Generation
Looking ahead, Jesse hopes Interim will continue expanding its reach. “I want to be in all the high schools, all the middle schools,” he says. “We currently only serve clients 18 and older. I would love to see us grow and reach out to more children.”
He believes that building awareness early can transform lives. “The preventative qualities are so powerful… and I’m so inspired to see young people—people, you know, 13, 14—talk about mental health these days.”
“There’s only one way to find out how much better it can be.”
Jesse’s journey—from isolation and self-doubt to leadership and community voice—is a testament to what happens when lived experience is welcomed, not hidden.
“I never thought I’d publicly speak—and that’s 80% of my job now.” To those who are hesitant to reach out, Jesse offers this: “No matter what you’re going through… I’ve never seen our services do anyone wrong. I’ve never seen reaching out as being a negative… There’s only one way to find out how much better it can be.”