Hello, I’m Chris, the Director of Communications, Outreach, and Events at the Office of Suicide Prevention within the Department of Veterans Affairs. My passion lies at the intersection of suicide prevention, media, technology, and design, and I am committed to developing innovative solutions for those affected by suicide and mental health issues.

For the past 16 years, I have dedicated my career to suicide prevention and crisis intervention at various levels, from local to national. My focus is on understanding suicide, leveraging technology to prevent it, and advocating for the voices of those with lived experiences.

At VA, I oversee national communications efforts related to Veteran suicide prevention. Collaborating with teams across the Office of Suicide Prevention, I ensure our messaging aligns with our mission, goals, and priorities. I work closely with leadership, multidisciplinary experts, researchers, and innovators to create and distribute resources that enhance awareness of services, promote mental wellbeing, and empower Veterans to seek support. I also direct the Veterans Crisis Line paid media (Dial 988 then Press 1) and the Don’t Wait. Reach Out. (Va.gov/REACH in partnership with the Ad Council) campaigns.

In my previous nonprofit roles, I partnered with media companies and journalists to communicate effectively about suicide, its prevention, research, and the problem’s scale. I built strong relationships with media professionals, including those at Netflix, Lionsgate, CBS/Viacom, HBO, YouTube, Riot Games, Washington Post, New York Times, MTV, TODAY, Good Morning America, ESPN, Rolling Stone, USA Today, CNN, BuzzFeed News, and Newsweek. I also collaborated with artists, musicians, celebrities, and advocates, such as Metallica, Andrew W.K., Kate Nash, Rachel Bloom, legislators, and presidential administrations, to connect with the public and increase exposure for the cause. I have been featured on the TODAY Show and WebMD, among other outlets.

Mr. Maxwell regularly consults on trust and safety, mental health, and suicide prevention with technology leaders, including gaming companies, major app developers, and major online video sharing and social media platforms.