VA launches $20 million innovation challenge to reduce Veteran suicide

WASHINGTON — As part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ 10-year strategy to reduce Veteran suicide, VA invites innovators across the country to participate in Mission Daybreak — a $20 million challenge designed to help VA develop new suicide prevention strategies for Veterans.

Those interested are encouraged to submit their detailed concept papers via  missiondaybreak.net to VA no later than July 8, 2022. 

The effort supports the goals of President Biden’s Unity Agenda and aligns with the priority goals and implementation principles of the White House strategy on reducing military and Veteran suicide.

“To end Veteran suicide, we need to use every tool available,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “In the most recent National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report more than 45,000 American adults died by suicide — including 6,261 Veterans. That’s why Mission Daybreak is fostering solutions across a broad spectrum of focus areas to combat this preventable problem.”

Proposed solutions for Mission Daybreak should seek to address one or more of the designated challenge focus areas outlined in the Mission Daybreak webpage.

During Phase 1 all challenge participants will have access to a collection of open data, surveys, and reports on Veteran suicide prevention as they prepare their concept papers. Innovators and collaborators are also invited to join the Mission Daybreak solver community, which helps solvers expand and augment their teams with interdisciplinary expertise.

To learn more and hear from experts, solvers are encouraged to register for the upcoming virtual information session and topical webinars. Forty teams will receive awards ranging from $100,000 to $3 million which will be distributed across two phases.

Visit missiondaybreak.net for more information on the challenge.

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