The challenge
01
Most veterans own firearms—and are deeply protective of that right. They don’t want to talk about mental health, and if they do, it’s only with people they trust.
The solution
02
We didn’t just want to raise awareness—we wanted to provide a product for veterans that could both keep their firearms secure and connect them to a support network in a potential moment of crisis.
A connected network at the ready
VET-SAFE is a firearm sensor which sends alerts to owners and to their designated support network of family members and friends when a firearm is accessed. Through cellular technology, it sends alerts after a change in light, vibration or sound. It is functional in 160+ countries and is ready out-of-the-box. The idea crosses multiple uses—from anti-theft to personal safety, to mental health and social support.
The impact
03
From suicide awareness to actionable prevention
We created the opportunity to blend technology and simple messaging to help break the stigma of even talking about mental health within military communities. The War Within doesn’t just transcend the original challenge—it completely reframes it. The fight against veteran suicide can now be a real-time, personal response. The campaign set the groundwork for long-term behavior change and policy influence.
