“22 a day” refers to the estimated number of U.S. military veterans who die by suicide each day. The statistic comes from a 2012 Department of Veterans Affairs report and became one of the most widely recognized figures in veteran advocacy, appearing on bumper stickers, tattoos, social media challenges, and awareness campaigns across the country.
Where the Number Comes From
In 2012, the VA published a Suicide Data Report that analyzed death records from 21 states. Among cases where military service history was recorded, veterans made up roughly 22.2% of all suicides. The report then extrapolated that percentage across all 50 states and estimated that 22 veterans died by suicide per day in the calendar year 2010.
That extrapolation is important context. The original dataset covered fewer than half of U.S. states, and the VA assumed the rate held constant nationwide. It was the best estimate available at the time, but it was built on incomplete data. The VA has since expanded its analysis significantly, moving from roughly three million veteran records across 20 states to a much broader national picture.
Has the Number Changed?
Yes. More recent VA reports put the daily average closer to 17. The 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, which draws on far more complete data, found the national average had dropped from 22 per day in 2016 to 17. That decline is meaningful, but it still represents more than 6,000 veteran deaths by suicide per year. The original “22 a day” figure remains the one most people recognize, and many advocacy groups continue to use it as shorthand for the crisis.
Even with the lower number, veterans remain at significantly elevated risk. In 2020, the age- and sex-adjusted suicide rate among veterans was 57.3% higher than the rate among non-veteran U.S. adults. That gap reflects a combination of factors: combat exposure, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, difficulty transitioning to civilian life, and barriers to accessing mental health care.
The 22 Pushup Challenge and Public Awareness
The statistic gained enormous visibility through social media, particularly the “22 Pushup Challenge” that went viral in the mid-2010s. Participants filmed themselves doing 22 pushups a day for 22 days, then tagged friends to do the same. Organizations like 22Kill helped popularize the campaign, and it spread well beyond the veteran community, drawing participation from celebrities, athletes, and active-duty service members.
Military organizations have continued adapting the format. In September 2024, U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command launched a 17-Day Pushup Challenge, updating the number to reflect the more current daily average of 17. The shift signals both progress and the ongoing severity of the problem.
What the VA Has Done in Response
The “22 a day” statistic put political and public pressure on the VA to invest in suicide prevention. One of the most notable results is the REACH VET program, which the VA rolled out nationally in 2017. It uses a predictive algorithm to identify patients at the highest statistical risk for suicide, then flags those patients to local coordinators who work with their clinicians to proactively adjust care. A study published by the National Institute of Mental Health found that participation in REACH VET was associated with more safety plans being created, more outpatient appointments completed, fewer emergency department visits, and a 5% reduction in documented suicide attempts.
The Veterans Crisis Line also expanded access in July 2022 by integrating with the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Veterans can now dial 988 and press 1 to reach a dedicated responder. In the two years following that launch, the Veterans Crisis Line answered more than 1.1 million calls through the 988 system. Veterans can also chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat or text 838255.
Why the Phrase Still Resonates
Round numbers stick, and “22 a day” is both simple and staggering. It reframes veteran suicide from an abstract policy issue into something visceral: every hour, nearly one veteran takes their own life. For many veterans and military families, the phrase carries personal weight. It shows up on challenge coins, memorial runs, motorcycle patches, and fundraising campaigns. Even as the data improves and the daily count shifts, “22 a day” has become a cultural marker for the broader crisis of veteran mental health in the United States.