Veterans experience a great deal of trauma that only they can truly understand. Harrowingly, the Veteran suicide rate is the highest unadjusted suicide rate for any subset of the population, and it’s up to us to help them. Veterans Affairs plans to do this by giving up to $3 million to people who can contribute to solving the problem of Veteran suicide. Related read:PTSD Awareness Month Highlights Shocking 75% Veteran PTSD Rate

What Is the Veteran Suicide Rate?

Suicide is an urgent public health issue that affects many different communities, especially our Veterans. In 2019 alone, 45,000 American adults committed suicide, and 6,261 of them were U.S. Veterans. Unfortunately, the Veteran suicide rate has increased dramatically from 2001 to 2019. According to an annual report conducted by Veterans Affairs, the suicide rate from 2001 to 2019 among Veterans rose by 35.9%. More specifically, in 2001, 23.3 Veterans out of 100,000 died by suicide. As of 2019, that number has jumped to 31.6 per 100,000 Veterans.

Veteran Suicide Prevention Plans

As of May 25, 2022, Veterans Affairs department members launched Mission Daybreak, a $20 million initiative to create strategies for Veteran suicide prevention. You may be asking, "Who exactly will be coming up with these strategies?" The answer is any individual or Veteran suicide prevention organizations who have an idea that they believe will positively serve our Veterans. Veterans Affairs' mission is to get thousands of diverse ideas that can, hopefully, lower the Veteran suicidality rate per day. Mission Daybreak will last six weeks, and over thirty of the best Veteran suicide prevention ideas will win a cash prize. This is an excellent way for people to serve those who have already served them. There isn't a single solution that will stop this ongoing issue. Still, by creating multiple solutions, Veterans will be provided with a wide array of options to tackle any potential suicidal ideation.

How To Submit Ideas for Mission Daybreak

There are two phases of the challenge. The first phase will require participants to submit a 10-page paper that provides an evidence-based framework and implementation plan. Participants can submit any ideas they believe will benefit our troops and Vets, but department heads will be considering nine key aspects:

1. Utilize data from active and passive sources.
2. Enhance access to the Veteran Crisis Line (VCL) through technological innovations.
3. Prevent firearm suicides and increase lethal means safety.
4. Connect all Veterans in need with the right care.
5. Enhance community resilience and connection.
6. Increase family and community involvement for Veteran well-being.
7. Streamline the transition from military service to civilian life.
8. Take on social determinants of health and well-being.
9. Reduce barriers for Veterans to ask for help.

All submissions for phase 1 should be submitted by 4:59 p.m. EDT on July 8, 2022. A total of thirty people will receive $250,000 and go on to phase 2, where they will be able to put their plan to work. Ten more teams will be granted a Promise Award of $100,000. Phase 2 will consist of the final 30 teams and go through an eight-week virtual accelerator, providing participants with resources to make their plans a reality. Teams will be required to present their Veteran suicide prevention solutions to a panel of judges, stakeholders, investors, and partners, who will give the final teams an excellent opportunity to network and implement their plan.

Mission Daybreak Offers Hope

Veterans are losing their lives every day to suicide. They’re our nation's heroes, and it's time we start treating them as such. Mission Daybreak will give civilians a chance to offer a helping hand to Vets in need and has the potential to save thousands of lives every year. There isn't one solution that will permanently erase the Veteran suicide rate. Still, as long as there are options available, it will provide a positive way for more Veterans to receive help, instead. More like this:New Study Group Aims To Reduce Suicide Rate in the Military