The following crisis resources appear on every public-facing asset produced for this program, in every language of production, and are verified against current VA-published numbers before each release:
Veterans Crisis Line — dial 988, then Press 1
Text — 838255
Chat — VeteransCrisisLine.net
TTY — 711, then 988
02
Safe-Messaging Principles
Creative development aligns with VA Suicide Prevention safe-messaging guidance, SAMHSA's safe messaging recommendations, and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) safe-messaging guidelines: no method or means detail, no depiction of crisis, no presentation of suicide as inevitable or as a solution, hope and help-seeking emphasized throughout, and dignity-first imagery of veterans and families at all times.
Prohibited content:
Explicit description or depiction of suicide method or means
Any depiction of a person in active crisis or self-harm
Presentation of suicide as inevitable, as an escape, or as a solution to hardship
Imagery or language that romanticizes, sensationalizes, or normalizes suicide
Simplified or single-cause explanations of suicide
Untested claims of treatment efficacy or guaranteed outcomes
Identifiable veteran imagery or stories used without documented informed consent
03
Clinical Review Workflow
1
Concept Review. Creative concept reviewed against the safe-messaging checklist and shared with the facility Suicide Prevention Coordinator (SPC) before drafting begins.
2
Creative Draft Review. Draft copy, imagery, and video routed internally against the prohibited-content list and safe-messaging principles.
3
Clinical Sign-Off. Facility SPC (or designated clinical reviewer) provides written sign-off on the draft prior to production.
4
PAO & Communications Review. Facility Public Affairs Officer and communications staff review for tone, accuracy, and coordination with other facility messaging.
5
Legal / Privacy Review. Legal and privacy review as required for consent documentation, data handling, and use of any identifiable individual.
6
Approved Release. Asset is finalized and released only after all required sign-offs are documented and on file.
7
Post-Launch Monitoring. Public response is monitored after launch; any community concern is routed back through this workflow for reassessment.
Clinical Safety Document
Clinical Safety & Review Protocol
Page 2 of 2
04
Endorsement Controls
No asset shall imply VA endorsement of any product, service, or commercial entity. The VA seal and wordmark shall not be used without prior written authorization from the facility Public Affairs Officer. All campaign materials carry clear attribution of sponsorship so audiences understand who produced and funded the outreach.
05
Accessibility
All digital assets are built to Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 AA conformance across web properties, including keyboard navigation and color contrast. All video assets are captioned. Written materials follow plain-language standards, and all images carry descriptive alt text.
06
Linguistic and Cultural Adaptation
Materials produced in languages other than English are adapted by native speakers and reviewed for cultural relevance — never produced solely by machine translation. Adapted materials are validated with community partners familiar with the local veteran population before release.
07
Escalation
Concerns raised about any asset — from facility staff, veterans, families, or the public — are routed to the named point of contact below, acknowledged within [X BUSINESS HOURS], and resolved through the takedown procedure: (1) asset is pulled from active distribution pending review; (2) concern is reviewed with the facility SPC; (3) asset is revised, reinstated, or retired; (4) resolution is documented and shared with the requesting party.
Point of contact: [NAME, TITLE, PHONE / EMAIL]
08
Compliance Checklist
Item
Status
Asset reviewed against VA/SAMHSA/AFSP safe-messaging standards
Required before production
Veterans Crisis Line (988, Press 1) included on every public-facing asset
