A Pensacola peer recovery specialist has earned one of the field’s most prestigious individual honor, recognized nationally for his decade of work transforming lived experience into life-saving community impact.
- The National Council for Mental Wellbeing has named Jermaine J. Williams the 2026 Peer Specialist of the Year. National Council President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia will present the award, part of the organization’s annual Awards of Excellence at NatCon, the nation’s largest behavioral health conference in Denver in late April.
From Crisis to Calling
Williams’s path to national recognition began with personal struggle. After battling a 13-year substance misuse addiction and surviving a life-threatening mental health crisis, he committed himself to recovery and serving others who face similar challenges. He has now spent more than nine years in recovery.
- As a peer recovery specialist with CDAC Behavioral Healthcare, Williams supports individuals navigating substance use and mental health challenges. He also serves as a Mental Health First Aid Instructor through the Cypress Resilience Project, helping build awareness and crisis response capacity across the Pensacola community.
Why this matters: To date, Williams has answered more than 1,000 suicide crisis calls, a testament to both the demand for peer support and his commitment to showing up for those in need.
A Voice for Recovery
Williams uses storytelling and peer engagement as tools to dismantle stigma and broaden the community’s understanding of recovery. His approach reflects the core principle of the peer specialist model: that those who have walked through crisis are uniquely equipped to guide others through it.
- Ingoglia acknowledged that distinction in his remarks about the award. “The Awards of Excellence recognize individuals each year who have achieved distinction in this amazing field,” Ingoglia said. “While so many National Council members fit that category, I’m honored to recognize Jermaine for his incredible accomplishments.”
On the Ballot: Williams is running for mayor of Pensacola, where he has made behavioral health a central issue in his campaign by drawing public attention to the city’s rising overdose rates and the persistent lack of access to mental health care.
National Recognition
Williams is one of four National Council members being honored this year. The organization will also present two Lifetime Achievement Awards. All four recipients will be recognized during NatCon, where more than 5,000 health care professionals will gather to learn, connect, and advance the field.
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing, founded in 1969, represents more than 3,200 mental health and substance use treatment organizations serving over 15 million Americans. Through its Mental Health First Aid program, the organization has trained more than 4.5 million people nationwide.