Pictured: Ashley Ellis

Meet Ashley!

As a Behavioral Health Peer Advocate, Ashley Ellis offers support to people living with mental- health and life challenges, including suicide risk. She draws on her own lived experience to assist others with building life skills and to help educate the community.

“I try to approach all people (patients, visitors, coworkers, etc.) with warmth, respect, and grace,” Ashley said. “We never truly know what another person is going through. Kindness goes a long way.”

“Ashley works diligently to go above and beyond what is required of her, to take her lived experience and passion for the work that she does into the community and raise awareness about suicide prevention,” said the colleague who nominated her as Unsung Hero. “Ashley has organized a local suicide prevention coalition and has fostered connections at the state level and with different programs and experts across the country to increase her own knowledge and expertise in this area, and her work has already yielded results in our community in terms of awareness and action.”

Ashely likes being able to advocate for those who are currently unable to advocate for themselves.

Outside of work, Ashely enjoys spending time with animals, creating beautiful things, and being with loved ones.

Something not everyone knows about Ashley is that her dream is to one day run The Lost Boys Ranch and Retreat—a place of healing and growth for teens who need help finding their way and for those who have experienced loss and need a safe place to just breathe and start the grief journey.

Ashley, your advocacy for vulnerable people in our community is truly inspiring. Many team members at MRH do exceptional work, but you continually raise the bar. Your passion for your calling makes a difference every day, and we know that your commitment will ripple throughout the lives of many area families for generations to come.