The VA is eyeing the use of artifical intelligence and virtual reality to find new ways to prevent veteran suicides. Among the winning submissions are solutions that leverage artificial intelligence, communications, mobile applications, and virtual reality.

The VA received more than 1,300 submissions from veterans, veteran service organizations, community groups, health IT companies, startups and universities.

Televeda's Project Hózhó, a mental health app for American Indian and Alaska Native populations won the first place and was awarded with $3 million in prizes. The solutions incorporates traditional healing practices like storytelling and talking-circle interventions. The concept will start with Navajo veterans and will adapt and expand to other tribes.

Read more about the initiative here.