Lindsey Milner

Lindsey has worked in advertising and marketing as a copywriter for over 16 years - working for the Guardian, News UK and Hearst Magazines and hugely passionate about breaking down the stigma of mental health, neurodiversity and getting mothers more support through pregnancy and postpartum.

Public speaking has always been a part of my career and personal life: speaking at weddings, parties and funerals! Since a young age I suffered with anxiety and occasional bouts of depression.

As a teenager, faced with the need to socialise, go to university and enter the world of work, it led me to develop a very unhealthy relationship with alcohol.

As with many women, it wasn’t until I got pregnant and had my first child in 2015 that I fully understood the reality of my mental health and the wheels fell-off!

I had Post-Natal Depression for 2 years and it affected my ability to work. I couldn’t find the balance of being a perfectionist & guilty parent with flexible work that wasn’t ‘boring’ or ‘unstimulating’... which led to more depression.

After the birth of my second child in 2019, I was listening to Nicky Cambell and Jordan Stephens from the Rizzle Kicks talk about ADHD and they offered me a light-bulb moment! I got a private diagnosis in 2023. I needed to understand how to stay in employment and to do that, I needed to understand how to make my brain work ‘normally’.

Turns out I have moderate - severe combined ADHD - and my anxiety was ADHD. The ADHD caused my depression.

After doing a LOT of ADHD courses with the likes of ADHD Works and the Open Uni, plus a lot of self-directed learning, I suspect I’m also autistic.

Since 2020 I’ve worked for companies that push employers on flexible working and ED&I in the workplace - and have become a ED&I employer branding specialist and ND advocate.

I’ve volunteered with charities like PANDAS - Home – PnD – Postnatal Depression Support – PANDAS Foundation UK helping support new parents on a helpline.

I’ve supported the young people’s mental health charity HOME | Be Free Campaign and contributed to a book for children aged 5-12 on mental health, which will be released next year.

I’ve recently started volunteering with ALF: Accessible Learning Foundation | Early Identification of SEND to raise awareness in schools, prisons and workplaces on supporting individuals to get a ND diagnosis.

I’m currently writing two books: One on ADHD and Careers and the other, ADHD and Motherhood and starting my counselling qualifications.

I’m hugely passionate about breaking down the stigma of mental health and neurodiversity, getting mothers more support through pregnancy and postpartum.

And creating more inclusive work cultures and compassionate employers - where everyone can bring their true selves to work and we can see better equality and opportunity as a result.