The mental health speaker who's been on both sides of the story.
I speak as a writer, a public health expert, and a caregiver — all at once. The combination of professional authority and lived experience is what makes these conversations land differently.
- Keynotes — 30–60 minutes, with Q&A
- Panels & moderation — mental health, policy, media
- Workshops — storytelling, mental health communication
- Corporate events — employee wellness, leadership
- Academic & conference — healthcare, journalism, policy
Now accepting engagements for 2026–2027. In-person and virtual available.
After 15 years working inside the mental health system — and writing about it for Newsweek, Salon, Self, The Atlantic, and more — I know how to take a complex policy landscape and make it land with any audience. No jargon. No oversimplification.
I've worked inside the mental health system — at Crisis Text Line, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, and as the founder of Therapy Without Borders. I've seen what works, what fails, and what the research actually says.
My brother has schizophrenia. I've navigated the mental health system as a caregiver, a patient, and an advocate. That personal grounding makes the conversation feel real to audiences — not clinical, not distant.
The Mother Load: What We're Still Getting Wrong About Maternal Mental Health
Maternal mental health disorders affect 1 in 5 new mothers — yet most go undiagnosed and untreated. This talk examines the policy gaps, the stigma, and the structural failures that make postpartum care so hard to access, and what healthcare systems, employers, and individuals can do differently.
The Mental Health System Is Broken by Design — Here's What We Can Actually Fix
A clear-eyed look at the structural barriers — state licensing laws, insurance gaps, geographic deserts — that keep millions from getting care. What policy can fix, what technology can solve, and what only culture change will address. Leaves audiences with a framework for action, not just a list of problems.
How We Talk About Mental Health — and Why Most of It Isn't Working
Stigma persists not because people don't care, but because the stories we tell about mental illness are often wrong. Drawing on 15 years of mental health journalism, this talk examines what the research says about effective mental health communication, what well-intentioned campaigns get wrong, and what stories actually change minds.
Built for your audience.
I work with event organizers to tailor every talk to your audience and goals. These are the areas where I speak with the most authority — drawing on reporting, policy expertise, and lived experience.
Start the conversationSpeaker bio for event organizers.
Copy and paste the bio below for conference programs, event listings, and promotional materials. Reach out if you need a shorter version or a customized bio for your specific audience.
Request a custom bioAshley Womble, MPH is a writer, public health expert, and nonprofit founder working at the intersection of mental health policy, personal narrative, and systems change. She holds an MPH in health policy and has bylines in Newsweek, Salon, Cosmopolitan, Self, The Atlantic, People, and The Guardian. She helped build Crisis Text Line's national public narrative and played a central role in launching the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline. In 2026, she founded Therapy Without Borders, a nonprofit dismantling the licensing barriers that prevent millions from accessing mental health care. She is a two-time Lone Star Award winner and is currently working on a memoir.
↑ Copy this text for your event programLet's bring this conversation to your audience.
I work with conference organizers, corporate event teams, academic institutions, and nonprofits. Every engagement is tailored to your audience and goals.
Or email: ashley@ashleywomble.com