Suicide Awareness Month
Mental health and suicide prevention remain critical issues affecting both active-duty service members and veterans. In support of Suicide Awareness Month, Commander, Submarine Group 9 needed a visual communication tool that could cut through the noise, convey an urgent message clearly, and encourage Sailors to seek help when needed.
This graphic was created as part of a larger Navy-wide awareness effort, and its clear, impactful design led to its adoption not only at Submarine Group 9, but across multiple Navy organizations, including All Hands Magazine, which reaches over 330,000 Sailors.
Scope:
This project involved designing two distinct graphics that could be deployed across digital platforms and physical spaces throughout the command. The graphics needed to:
Prominently feature the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number.
Align with Suicide Awareness Month’s official colors and visual themes.
Be adaptable for use across social media, internal screens, and print materials.
Resonate with both active-duty personnel and leadership, driving home the importance of immediate access to support.
Process:
Using Adobe Illustrator, I developed both graphics, carefully balancing visual appeal with clarity of message. The design process included:
Color selection aligned with Suicide Awareness Month branding, using a combination of purple and teal — colors that symbolize awareness and prevention.
Typography choices that ensured readability at a glance, especially for digital screens and smaller mobile views.
Hierarchy of information, placing the DIAL 988 message front and center, supported by brief context to encourage action.
Feedback incorporation, working with Submarine Group 9 Public Affairs to ensure the graphic met both the command’s visual standards and Navy-wide messaging guidelines.
Challenges & Solutions:
The biggest challenge was simplifying a complex, emotionally charged message into a clear, actionable visual that would resonate in a military environment where stigma around mental health still exists. By focusing on directness and visibility, I ensured the design was immediately impactful without unnecessary clutter, keeping the focus on the lifeline number and encouraging help-seeking behavior.
Outcomes:
The graphic’s success was reflected in its adoption across multiple Navy platforms, including:
All Hands Magazine, the Navy’s official publication with a reach of approximately 330,000 Sailors.
Internal TRFB and Submarine Group 9 communication channels, from social media posts to digital signagethroughout the command.
Positive feedback from Public Affairs leadership, who highlighted the design’s clarity, visual appeal, and effectiveness in supporting Suicide Awareness Month messaging.
Lessons Learned:
This project reinforced the importance of designing with empathy, especially when addressing sensitive topics like mental health and suicide prevention. It also showed the power of strategic visual communication , a well-crafted graphic doesn’t just deliver information, it can actively influence behavior and help reduce stigma by making access to help feel approachable and normalized.