PSCFL Announces Peer Hero of The Year Grand Prize Winner: Global Peer Support Celebration Day 2023

Shakima Peterson, Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS)

October 19th marks Global Peer Support Celebration Day (GPSCD) an honorable and exciting day for peer supporters (also known as peer workers or peer specialists) from across the globe to celebrate the vital role they play in helping peers who are recovering from mental health, substance use, and or trauma-related challenges move along the continuum of recovery and inclusion into communities of their choosing. On this day, the Peer Support Coalition of Florida, Inc. (PSCFL)  recognized Peer Specialists from across the state during our Facebook Live Hour event.

PSCFL received over 24 nominations from peers, mental health advocates, and community members to give a Peer Specialist who has impacted their local community a chance to win a grand prize! 

PSCFL announces that our 2023 “Peer Hero of The Year” grand prize winner is none other than Peer Specialist Shakima Peterson, Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS).

Shakima Petersen, also known as “The Mental Mender,” currently works as a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) with endorsements of Adult and Family. She is the only Generalist Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) at Starting Behavioral Healthcare (SPBH) because Shakima wanted to work with everyone, not just specified areas. Shakima has been working at this agency for almost two years. 

During COVID-19, Shakima struggled with her own mental health challenges along with finding her purpose. While in therapy, Shakima spoke about things she went through in her life on a podcast platform and was able to help others by sharing her story. She mentioned this to her therapist, who stated that Shakima provided Peer Support.

She then researched the information and started training to become a CRPS. When Shakima thought that she would never be able to fulfill her dream of working in the Mental Health Field, it found her again. She is now sharing her story of lived experiences helping others with mental health challenges, substance abuse, and trauma-related challenges to get to the place where she is or better. 

Shakima's mother struggled with undiagnosed mental health challenges until she died on November 1, 2009, due to insufficient resources in St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands in the 1990s and early 2000s. 

Shakima started from a place of personal experience, witnessing the mental health challenges her mother faced. This ignited a fire within her to make a difference and support others who may be going through similar struggles. Her mental health challenges have only made her more resilient and determined to create a positive impact.

Shakima has been training to expand her expertise and experience to help others. Some trainings include Domestic Violence 101, The Jason Foundation's youth and adult suicide awareness and prevention training, Transforming Grief, and many others, along with required Florida Certification Board CEUs.

She is currently enrolled in the Certified Support Specialist program (CRSS) with Lutheran Services Florida (LSF). She will register for the Certified Addiction Counselor Course (CAC) at Edward Waters College. Shakima recently reenrolled at Florida State College at Jacksonville to finish her journey (that she once started nine years ago but took a break) to become a therapist!

Shakima is the Co-Owner of SnS Event Planning business. She is also the Assistant/MC to a DJ company for DJ Fyahhh of Fyahman Soundz. She is the founder and owner of The Safe Haven Space LLC where she welcomes others to a safe place to speak about life's stressors, mental health challenges, and more. To be heard with no judgment or criticism. Shakima will be the ear to listen, support and encourage. This space is currently only virtual.

To learn more about Peer Specialist and how to get involved, you can click on this link: www.peersupportfl.org/who-we-serve/peer-specialists/.