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In Memoriam: Jan Anastasato

The Broward Housing Solutions’ board of directors and staff sadly announces the passing of Ms. Jan Anastasato, a founding Board Member of the organization and an active advocate in Broward County’s mental health community.  Ms. Anastasato, who served as secretary of the Broward Housing board for 16 years, was the Project Director at 9Muses Art Center.  Although her mental illness was stabilized, she also suffered from manic depression and knew first-hand about the plight of the mentally ill. 

Ms. Anastasato was one of three mental health consumers to join the Broward Housing Solutions’ board when it first began in 1993 and remained on the board for the rest of her life.

Diagnosed with manic depression in 1977, Ms. Anastasato’s continuing improvement did not begin until after 1991 when doctors prescribed medications that helped stabilized her condition.  A support group, compliance with her medications and acceptance were keys to her recovery.

In 1993, Ms. Anastasato was hired by Mental Health Association of Broward.  One of her first challenges was compiling a directory of mental health services for  newly diagnosed mental health consumers just coming out of the hospital and the homeless individuals with mental illness.  With the guidance of her employer and mentor, Anita Godfrey, Mental Health Association CEO, a very useful booklet called “Connections” was published, now in its 10th edition.  Also because of Godfrey’s suggestion, Ms. Anastasato became actively involved in advocacy, sitting on committees of mental health agencies and facilitating two weekly support groups for consumers.

In 1996, the Mental Health Association of Broward was contracted to create a consumer-run drop-in center with a focus on the arts.  Ms. Anastasato was appointed as the Project Director. The center was named 9Muses Art Center and serves more than 1,800 members, some of whom are non-consumers and who pay for the privilege of taking classes with mental health consumers and thus challenging the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Ms. Anastasato also served as Consumer Support Projects Director at the Mental Health Association of Broward where she oversaw all consumer programs.  She is survived by one son and a step-daughter.