Do you think the number 22 helps or hurts suicide awareness in the military community?

I think the answer here is fairly obvious. Presenting such an easy to remember number and phrase serves as a quasi-mnemonic for military suicide awareness. It helps.

22 Suicides per Day? Florida State Univ Study:
The researchers found a total of 147,763 suicides in 21 states over the 13 years examined. Veterans were identified in 22 percent of those deaths. The study says "Estimates that the number of suicides among Veterans each day has increased, are based on information provided by 21 states and may not be generalizable to the larger Veteran population. ... estimates of the number of Veterans who have died from suicide each day based on proxy report of history of U.S. military service should be interpreted with caution." The study suggests that 22 veterans commit suicide on average each day while the data above suggests an average of 2,500 suicides by veterans per year or under seven per day in the 21 states studied. The study states that there is a significant state error rate in reporting veterans status. It also reveals a wide variation in veteran suicide rates among the 21 states, ranging from 7 to 27 percent.

I have never been big on the numbers game some organizations use. But with a little research i found that sexual assaults are as highe are higher than reported. And suicide is higher among vets than the regular population. Both are very sad. I started buddy check Wednesday now we have even more soliders starting to check on each other. So BLUF we have to look after one another. Then one day it will be 0 a day. Take the Spartan Pledge!

Just like MAJ Patrick Snyder said, any awareness is good awareness. The problem is that the number "22" is a false statistic, it was a number thrown out in the media during an interview.

It was interesting. As I had to go through training this wknd, I thought about how an unchecked poor command climate where people don't feel like they are cared about and/or have resources to help them can contribute to the statistic.

While the number is most likely wrong, it is an easy number for the disparate and many times dysfunctional veteran community to rally around. This allows for the "marketing" of the concept in our days of multiple formats of mass communication to be sent across in a relatively consistent fashion to the general population.

I think treating every emotional disorder with anti-depressants is the wrong answer. I believe any suicide awareness policy that sheds light on the issue increases awareness, which is good, but ultimately the military and the VA have no effective policy in play to deal with the problem. Just postponing it with drugs is not the answer.

The 22 helps. People, ALL people need to know the TRUTH. Yes, there have been some good bills, that got attention, more mental health care, Clay Hunt Bill, 24 hour crisis line, etc. However,
Veterans are still committing suicide. Why? What is the cause? There are a lot of answers. As Veterans and the reserve and active, need to involved in their battle buddies life for support and morale. Don't get too much into their "Business". Let the soldiers know about resources, education, education, education. Now, I will get on my soap box and call it like I see it with our "above pay grade administration". When a group of men and women have signed the blank check to become government property. Made the decision to sacrifice, everything, everything, and has made that sacrifice, when others did not. The people who sacrifice, have EARNED to get the best medical and mental health care. Obama is not doing that! What is my justification on that statement. When funding is being used to bring muslims immigrants over here to the USA because of incompetent
people do not know how to deal with war and terrorism, and does not follow or abide by the law, meaning the US Constitution, yes, the one where all of had to hold up our right hand and take the oath. He makes up new ones as we go along, is pathetic. American Veterans come first. Period. When I was active duty with the 101st Airborne celebrating the liberation of Holland, Operation Market Garden 50th Anniversary. After we had jumped, we had lunch and fellowship with the Dutch Commando Army.
There was a soldier who said: "Why want your country stay out of everyone's business? Take care of
your own for once. Tell your president, to take care of your people and issues, in your country".
I was amazed by what the soldier had said. I though about it for a minute, and said, I will tell him.
So, Mr. President I am telling you now what the Dutch Commando Army Soldier said. Take care of our Veterans first. Immigrants come last.

There are problems and there are Veteran problems that stem from military service. This is a problem that is labeled a "Veteran" problem, but really a problem for everyone, some who happen to be Veterans. As many said, there is no context. The perception as many have noted give the impression it is the younger generation committing suicide because of their military service; the stats say something different. Most of the time, they commit suicide for other reasons (money, relationships, etc), not directly or indirectly connected to their military service (which is what the statistics show, and as mentioned older.)

I think in a way it is good to bring attention to the matter. It is a serious issue but it isn't what people are trying to make it. It is being implied that 22 Veterans of the post 9/11 conflicts are killing themselves per day due to PTSD.

The number comes from a partial study done in 2012 that didn't even include every state (missing veteran heavy states such as California and Texas).

Also as mentioned, the average age of the Veteran who committed suicide was 60, so it was outside of those veterans of OIF/OEF.

In my opinion, the emphasis on the number 22 paints a picture that the veterans of this era are somehow defective

The majority of people want to attribute suicide to PTSD because it simplifies things. This isn't true at all. Most of our suicides are committed by individuals who have never deployed, much less seen combat.