Meet Our Team
Mario Martin - Peer Support Specialist | Navy Veteran | Retired CHP
Mario Martin brings more than three decades of military and law enforcement experience to his work as a Peer Support Specialist. He served four years in the United States Navy followed by 26 years with the California Highway Patrol and holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Throughout his career, Mario experienced firsthand the cumulative impact that years of high-stress service can have on a first responder. Over time, he began experiencing symptoms of PTSD and depression, but like many first responders, he didn’t immediately understand what was happening or why he felt different. The changes came gradually. Years of responding to difficult situations, staying focused under pressure, and moving from one call to the next left little opportunity to process what he was experiencing. Feelings that were pushed aside at work sometimes followed him home, affecting his mood, relationships, and ability to fully decompress.
For a long time, Mario thought what he was experiencing was simply something he needed to push through. He later came to understand that many first responders experience similar struggles but rarely talk about them. That realization became an important part of his decision to become a Peer Support Specialist. Today, Mario uses both his professional experience and his personal journey to help other first responders understand what they may be going through. He provides a space where they can speak openly with someone who understands the culture, the demands of the job, and how difficult it can be to ask for support. Mario’s message to other first responders is simple: You are not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Strength isn’t pretending the job doesn’t affect you. It’s having the courage to recognize when it does and choosing to get help.