Mission Daybreak Grand Challenge Winner
Reducing Veteran suicides is a top clinical priority for VA. That’s why VA launched the Mission Daybreak grand challenge in 2022, which awarded $20 million to suicide prevention solutions that can meet the diverse needs of Veterans. Building off the work that began with the grand challenge, the mission brings Veterans, researchers, technologists, advocates, healthcare providers, health innovators, and service members together to collaborate and advance suicide prevention solutions.
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Origin: February 2023, Phoenix, AZ Partners: Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning (OHIL), Office of Suicide Prevention (OSP)
The Hero’s Story facilitates culturally appropriate, evidence-based interventions and mental health resources, such as storytelling and talking-circles, through the Televeda virtual platform. The platform is designed to lower social isolation and promote overall health improvement by facilitating meaningful connections. Televeda works to address the complex contributing factors to suicide for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Veterans by matching them with appropriate social determinants of health resources (protective factors) to address health inequity.
Problem
The American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population serves in the Armed Forces at a rate 5 times higher than the national average. However, a unique history, background and culture for this population poses significant barriers to addressing mental health challenges, such as the higher rates of suicide amongst Veterans. Unfortunately, there is a historical lack of trust and limited access to care on the Reservation, and no existing solutions incorporate their preferred traditional practices in a culturally appropriate manner.
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Solution
Televeda builds pathways to trust, increases access to care, and facilitates the delivery of traditional healing through its Virtual Talking Circle application which is a novel reimagining of peer support & group therapy in a culturally competent interface. Suicide prevention is addressed in an upstream approach by fostering social connectedness and community healing.
Results
In 2023, Televeda directly engaged 245 AIAN Veterans, whom would otherwise not have reached out for mental health services and connected 19 new Veterans into the VA system. Additionally, Televeda worked with the Arizona Department of Veteran Services in bringing digital literacy and internet connectivity to 4 tribes to improve access to VA benefits, with resources to combat mental-health stigma and homelessness. In 2024, Televeda launched a Talking Circles pilot with the Navajo Nation Veterans Administration while continuing to study the efficacy of its Storytelling intervention with the Lakota Tribe.