Yasmin Flasterstein, Co-founder Executive Director, Peer Support Space

I’ve had the pleasure and privilege to know Yasmin Flasterstein for a little over half a decade now as both colleague and dear friend. After Pulse, we worked collaboratively at the Mental Health Association for the Orlando United Counseling program. Her commitment to ensuring survivors and those impacted had access to free mental health counseling has had a lasting impact on both individual and community well-being. Her passion to challenging mental health stigma that acts to isolate and harm those who are vulnerable is palpable. I can genuinely say, in no hyperbolic way, that she has saved lives with her compassion.

In January 2019, with her vision as a guide, we co-founded Peer Support Space. At Peer Support Space, we strive to uplift and empower communities that too often are stifled and who have limited access to approachable resources. Yasmin will always pass the megaphone to voices that need to be heard and strives personally to ensure that the services provided through Peer Support Space are informed and led by the population served.

She has a unique perspective – having had both professional exposure to traditional mental health systems and personal lived experience with PTSD, Dissociative Disorder and as a candid suicide survivor. This vantage point helps her in identifying gaps in our mental health community so that equity can be achieved for those that have been excluded. Justice for mental health is central to the work Yasmin does; her vision has led to the coming launch of Central Florida’s very first peer-led drop-in center and respite coming in 2020 that will very actively provide a bridge to much needed access to services.

Because of her dedication as a founder and executive director, Peer Support Space has been able to provide 2,500 with free, peer-led services in its inaugural year. Under her care, we will only continue to grow and change our mental health system for the better.

Her other contributions to the community include being a founding member of Orlando Trans Collective, acting as a facilitator for Butterfly Talks and sitting as an active board member for the Peer Support Coalition of Florida and Central Florida Cares. And of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include her highest accolade – being an exceptional dog mom to Dee Dee, our mascot and group emotional support animal.

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