Potentia Labs Wins Contract with VA Center for Innovation to Boost Veterans' Mental Health

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Potentia Labs, developer of a unique interactive e-learning platform that teaches emotional wellness skills like resilience and mindfulness, announced today they have been awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to create a program specifically for veterans. The partnership, which aims to the growing number of veterans with depression and Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), began in 2014, when the VA Center for Innovation (VACI) held an industry competition in search of ideas to expand mental health care options for its veterans.

"As someone who has served in the military, I'm grateful that the VA is holding innovative competitions like these to work to improve access to mental health care," says Eric Lenhardt, a U.S. Army veteran and co-founder of Potentia Labs.

Most mental health services focus on alleviating patients' negative symptoms, whereas Potentia's program takes the opposite approach, using the tenets of positive psychology to enhance traits like confidence and optimism via an easy online platform and mobile app that reaches veterans wherever they are. That accessibility is important, since studies suggest that while many vets seek help for depression and PTSD, a significant number never return after their first appointment.  "Most of the available options are aimed at addressing what's wrong in veterans' lives," says Dustin Milner, CEO and cofounder of Potentia Labs.  "Our approach is more in line with the warrior mindset, building on veterans' existing strengths to help them become the best version of themselves."

Over the next year, Potentia Labs will customize and expand its technology for our nation's veterans, using its gold standard mix of gaming technology and top notch instructional design, as well as the expertise of the world's top psychologists, to deliver the tools of mental fortitude to this latest generation of veterans.

"Potentia combines the best science with the most adaptive developmental technology to date," Dr. James Avey, professor at Central Washington University, has used his expertise to help develop Potentia's curriculum, with the goal of helping users?including veterans?become more adept at bouncing back.  Says Avey: "As the grandson of a survivor of Pearl Harbor, it is very meaningful to me to help serve a group of people who serve us all."

For more information please visit www.potentiaapp.com or email [email protected]

SOURCE Potentia Labs