The Department of Veterans Affairs reported that on average 22 veterans a day commit suicide. This number is one that has been highly publicized and criticized by the public and politicians. While veterans affair workers struggle to pinpoint what causes veterans to take these extreme actions, veterans advocacy groups are making an effort to reduce this number.
Some people believe that veterans feel isolated from regular society when they enter life after service. They suggest that the feelings of loneliness and alienation drive veterans to commit suicide. For this reason, Veterans' Passport to Hope in Colorado encourages people to participate in Buddy Check 22 Day, as reported by ABC 7 News.
"Buddy Check 22 is a day to call a veteran that you know and check in on them to hopefully change the fact that 22 veterans a day commit suicide," organizers of the event posted on their Facebook page.
The site said that a call to a veteran only takes two minutes of your day but could be the conversation that saves a former servicemember's life.
To learn more about how you can participate in Buddy Check 22 Day, click here.