Reducing Veteran Suicides – a Key VA Mission
June 06, 2024
It started as an idea to reduce Veteran suicides. It became “Mission Daybreak” with $20 million to various organizations developing innovative ways to reduce the number of suicides among Veterans. For further information about this program, visit HERE.
Once the challenge was created and announced, over 1,300 submissions were received from universities, community-based organizations, Veteran Service Organizations, and many Veterans themselves. Choosing winners proved to be a challenging process, but ultimately 10 were chosen. The solutions outlined in the winner’s submissions included:
- Suicide prevention programs with healing and recovery components.
- Targeted virtual care programs.
The core philosophy behind Mission Daybreak was to develop programs that meet Veterans where they are, and not take an approach that one solution fits everyone.s
The two first-place winners in Mission Daybreak’s call for innovative programs were Stop Soldier Suicide’s Black Box Project and Televeda’s Project Hózhó, These two winners received $ 3 million each.
The Stop Soldier Suicide Black Box Project is a solution based on technology. It is designed to analyze and identify data from digital devices that belonged to Veterans who died by suicide. The intention is to develop machine learning models that identify never known before risk patterns. This project is intended to combine digital patterns and evidence-based suicide-specific interventions to create a unique, specific methodology.
Televeda’s Project Hózhó is the first mental health app and comprehensive operational plan for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) populations.
The tool was designed in partnership with AIAN and Veteran communities for Navajo Veterans. There are plans to adapt and expand the program to use with other tribes. This project incorporates traditional healing practices such as storytelling and talking-circle interventions.
There were three second-place winners who received $1 million for their projects and five third-place winners, each earmarked to receive $500,000. For Further information on the other winners of the Mission Daybreak Challenge, visit HERE.
Other efforts launched by the VA include:
- Veterans in acute suicidal crisis may go to any VA or non-VA medical facility to obtain emergency care at no cost. This may include crisis or residential care for 30 days, with 90 days of outpatient care.
- A call line – 988, then press 1 – set up to connect Veterans to connect quickly with suicide support 24/7.
- Floated a new rule to eliminate or reduce copays for Veterans at risk of suicide.
- Launched a massive outreach program to educate about lethal means safety and firearm suicide prevention.
- Launched a high level national awareness campaign called “Don’t Wait, Reach Out.”
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Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC is a national practice representing veterans from across the country. They have helped veterans collect over $10,000,000 in future and retroactive benefits.