Last year Andy Dousis, a colleague at work, challenged me (and others) to do 22 push-ups a day for 22 days to raise awareness that every day in America some 22 military veterans commit suicide. As part of the challenge, I had to post my push-ups on YouTube, Facebook and here.
Andy challenged me again this year! And already we’re in Week 2!
Each day I’ll post the video as well as a link to a related news article. Note: I tend to do more than 22 push-ups….
Day 8 (35 push-ups):
News Article: Here’s a link to a recent Washington Post article that notes, “A March 20 audit by the VA inspector general had found that nearly a third of calls to the Veterans Crisis Line as recently as November were bounced to backup centers run by an outside contractor, as well as other problems including weak leadership and inadequate data to measure the quality of calls. The rollover calls happen when phone lines are busy, leading to possible waits of 30 minutes or more.” Click!
Day 9:
News Article: “Roughly 20 veterans a day commit suicide nationwide, according to new data from the Department of Veterans Affairs — a figure that dispels the often quoted, but problematic, ’22 a day’ estimate yet solidifies the disturbing mental health crisis the number implied.” Click!
Day 10:
News Article: Two notes from a July 2016 VA Fact Sheet:
- Since 2001, the age-adjusted rate of suicide among U.S. Veterans has increased by 32.2%.
- Since 2001, the age-adjusted rate of suicide among U.S. Veteran females has increased by 85.2%.
Day 11:
News Article: This link clears up the 22 vs. 20 issue: “Based on the 2012 data, VA estimated the number of Veteran deaths by suicide averaged 22 per day. The current analysis indicates that in 2014, an average of 20 Veterans a day died from suicide.” Click!
Day 12:
News Article: Here’s an important crisis line for veterans and the people who know them: Click!
Day 13:
News Article: Here are words from a story last week about a new suicide-prevention program for veteran’s: “The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs created a new program to detect at-risk veterans before tragedy strikes.” Click!
Day 14:
News Article: “The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a new system to try to predict suicidal behavior among veterans called Recovery Engagement and Coordination for Health—Veterans Enhanced Treatment, or REACH VET.” Read the comments below the article, however, for a different take on this issue. Click!
Sample viewer comment:
—- Sue Frasier, Army 1970, national veterans activist
