Ashley L. Peterson began her career in health care as a pharmacist in 2002, but soon returned to school to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Over her 15-year nursing career, she specialized in mental health, primarily working with individuals facing serious and persistent mental illnesses in both hospital and community settings. Her personal journey with mental health took a significant turn when she was hospitalized and diagnosed with major depressive disorder two years into her nursing career. This experience fueled her passion for advocating against stigma and promoting open discussions about mental health.

For her Master of Psychiatric Nursing thesis, Ashley employed autoethnography to explore her own experiences with mental illness within the nursing culture, addressing stigma-related issues. She has published several papers in peer-reviewed nursing journals based on her research. Due to illness-related disability, Ashley has transitioned from her nursing career to focus on writing and advocacy, including her blog, Mental Health @ Home, where she shares insights and resources related to mental health.