The 988 Virginia website serves as the state’s dedicated portal for the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, providing immediate access to mental health crisis support.
The service is available 24/7 and connects callers to trained crisis counselors. In Virginia, 988 serves as a critical part of the state’s behavioral health response, helping residents access immediate, localized care during mental health emergencies.
Client
Virginia DBHDS
Scope of work
UX/UI Design
Web Development
Search Engine Optimization
Accessibility Enhancements
Project details
As a Senior Web Developer at the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), I was responsible for the full-stack development of the site, ensuring a seamless user experience across all devices through responsive design. The website was built with a focus on accessibility, adhering to WCAG standards to ensure inclusivity for all users. Performance optimization and search engine visibility were also key considerations throughout the development process.
Beyond the obvious
To support the 988 mission, I implemented several custom features:
Media Resource Toolkit: Built a downloadable asset system for public outreach materials (flyers, banners, presentation templates), streamlining access for stakeholders and partners.
Crisis Education Workflow: Implemented custom post types and templating logic to clearly differentiate crisis response content, including when to call 988 vs 911.
All systems were built to provide the flexibility to update resources rapidly without breaking site structure, a key requirement in emergency services communication.