The mission brings Veterans, friends, families, caregivers, community members, innovators, Veterans Service Organizations, and VA staff together to accelerate and integrate suicide prevention innovations.
Accelerating innovative solutions to reduce Veteran suicides.
Impact to date
1,371
Grand challenge submissions from Veterans, Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), startups and universities.
500+
Veterans, spouses, and experts helping guide product design and development.
200+
Attendees at solution prototype and initiative launch events.
1,900+
Automated wellness checks with Veterans in one pilot.
17,000+
VA staff users across 140+ Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) supported by Mission Daybreak solutions.
180+
Submissions to the new Broad Agency Announcement funding model.
*As of May 2025
VA announces Broad Agency Announcement for suicide prevention innovations
VA has published an ambitious Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) around suicide prevention. This initiative will source and fund early-stage research, development, prototyping, and piloting. Refer to the BAA for all official submission requirements and instructions.
Mission Daybreak featured in 2024 State of Innovation Report
Mission Daybreak was featured in VHA’s 2024 State of Innovation Report. The annual report is designed to educate and empower Veterans by sharing stories of innovative projects and programs relevant to their healthcare journeys.
Mission Daybreak teams meet at the 2024 VA Immersive Summit
In June, Mission Daybreak teams attended the 2024 VA Immersive Summit in Washington, D.C. The two-day conference brought together VA, industry, academia, and other federal agencies to hear from innovators in the augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) field and to try out the latest immersive devices for Veterans.
Mission Daybreak is still accelerating solutions. The challenge is over, but the mission continues.”
Amanda Lienau, Ph.D.
Director of Open Innovation
VHA Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning (OHIL)
Director of Open Innovation
VHA Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning (OHIL)
We are constantly scanning the horizon for innovative ideas and solutions to help navigate barriers and connect Veterans and their support networks to the needs they have, when they have them, and however they need to receive those supports. Mission Daybreak is about saving lives, legacies, and communities.”
Dr. Todd Burnett, Psy.D.
Senior Consultant for Operations
Office of Suicide Prevention
Veterans Health Administration
Senior Consultant for Operations
Office of Suicide Prevention
Veterans Health Administration
While there’s good ideas and good things that you could do individually, you come up with a lot more solutions and better solutions when a broader group and a diverse group is brought together… This challenge is bringing in broader and diverse representation, subject matter expertise, and experience, and thinking big within that.”
Dr. Matthew Miller
Executive Director VA Office of Suicide Prevention
Executive Director VA Office of Suicide Prevention
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