Creating Safety and Community Through Mental Health Advocacy

Vanessa Osage is the Director of Philanthropy at NAMI Washington, a nonprofit that provides education, support, and advocacy for mental health. Vanessa leads fundraising and donor engagement initiatives to support the organization’s programs. She also coordinates sponsorship and partnership efforts for signature events such as the NAMI WA Conference and Brainpower Showcase. Vanessa is also an author, having published Can’t Stop the Sunrise and Sex Education for Girls: A Parent’s Guide.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[02:02] What led Vanessa Osage to run away from home as a teenager and seek safety and health in the world
[05:21] How Vanessa’s definition of safety evolved from physical security to relational and emotional safety
[14:09] Vanessa talks about being “queer kindred” and how identity informed her empathy for others
[17:38] How coming home to oneself means cultivating integrity and courage
[23:45] The power of peer support groups and why NAMI’s programs are transformative for healing
[27:08] How NAMI Washington serves communities through education, advocacy, and peer support
[34:21] The Brainpower Showcase: where storytelling and art break stigma and celebrate resilience

In this episode…

What does it mean to truly create safety in a world where systems often fail to provide it? How do individuals transform personal struggles into sources of strength and empathy that can uplift entire communities?

According to Vanessa Osage, a longtime nonprofit leader and author, safety begins with the courage to seek health and belonging even in the face of adversity. She highlights how her early experiences of displacement and survival shaped her empathy and ability to connect with others across differences. By weaving together themes of justice, empowerment, and healing, she explains how both one-on-one therapy and peer-led support groups can profoundly reorder lives.

In this episode of With Intention, Liz Frost sits down with Vanessa Osage, Director of Philanthropy at NAMI Washington, to discuss creating safety and community through mental health advocacy. They explore how lived experience can serve as an access point to empathy, why peer support groups and education can be life-changing, and the importance of advocacy in shifting systems. Vanessa also shares how storytelling and art play a role in reducing stigma.

Resources Mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments:

“Almost 30 years ago, I ran away from home as a teenager to find health and safety.”
“Liberation is how we get to create relational safety in our lives, even if it means leaving everything.”
“I refer to myself as “queer kindred”, not just adjacent, because it’s deeper than sitting next to someone.”
“The courage it takes to have integrity and be true to yourself, like to me, that is a home.”
“It might not be far enough to say you are not alone; everyone is with you.”

Action Steps:

Create spaces for peer support: Providing group settings for shared experiences reduces isolation and fosters healing connections.
Normalize conversations about mental health: Open dialogue decreases stigma and helps individuals feel seen, understood, and empowered to seek support.
Engage in advocacy training programs: Equipping people to influence policy ensures systemic changes that benefit mental health on a broader scale.
Integrate arts and storytelling into awareness efforts: Personal narratives and creative expression humanize mental health challenges and build empathy across communities.
Expand outreach to underserved groups: Offering culturally and linguistically accessible programs ensures equity and inclusivity in mental health support.

Sponsor for this episode

This episode is brought to you by Intentional Spaces Psychotherapy.

Founded by Liz Frost, LICSW, Intentional Spaces offers inclusive, trauma-informed virtual care across Washington State, helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s complexities.

Whether you’re processing religious trauma, exploring your identity, or seeking support for anxiety or depression, their diverse team of therapists specializes in EMDR, CBT, DBT, and narrative therapy, ensuring personalized support for every client.

Ready to embark on your healing journey? Go to intentionalspaces/contact, and take the first step toward a more intentional life.