Most people hear “22 a day” when talking about Veteran suicide awareness. It’s a sobering figure that once defined the conversation—but it doesn’t define the future. Today, a new narrative is taking shape: counting the saves.

This important shift—from tallying tragedies to celebrating lives saved—empowers Veterans, their families, and communities to take action. As we move from statistics to individual impact, suicide prevention transforms into military mental health support that works and inspires those on the edge to hold on for another day. Counting the saves fuels strategy, resilience, and hope.

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The Edge and the Turning Point: Stories That Prove Hope Works

Marine Corps Lt. Colonel Brian Wilson was sitting on his couch with a gun in his mouth when love and memory intervened.

“I didn’t pull the trigger. I did not want my wife to have to clean my blood off our couch.”

Days later, at a funeral for a fellow Marine, a toddler played on his lap. She associated Wilson’s uniform with her father, who would never return. Driving away, he told himself,

“You’re going to widow your wife and leave your son like that little girl, unless you do something different.”

During a routine screening, he finally said,

“I don’t know what PTSD is, but I’m pretty sure I have it. And I want help because I don’t want to kill myself.”

The Warrior PATH program at Boulder Crest provided him with purpose, community, and valuable tools. Its founder calls their work “saving lives.”

Army Veteran Angie Lupe faced injury, anxiety, and memory loss so profound that she thought her identity had been erased. She admits,

“I thought about taking my life. I even attempted it.” Choosing to speak out became her lifeline. “Being able to actually talk about it is a big sign of strength, and it helps others.” Angie credits Wounded Warrior Project programs—music therapy, peer connection, and sharing her story—with helping her survive. She later declared, “I fought the battle of suicide, and I won, and I’m a survivor.”

Her vulnerability inspired Don Griner, another Veteran, to seek help. He credits Angie’s courage with saving his own life. Marine Veteran Jacob Schick once believed suicide was inevitable—until emotional and mental health care pulled him back. His openness has since inspired countless others to seek help.

Fellow Marine Jason Mosel battled survivor’s guilt, heavy drinking, and serious thoughts of ending his life. Counseling, outreach, and VA-supported resources shifted his path from despair to recovery.

Dan Hanson, another Marine, lived with suicidal thoughts after losing his brother. Speaking about his pain and finding community support saved him. Today, he advocates for others so they will not face the darkness alone.

Army Veteran Danny Eakins attempted suicide early in his career. Being heard, supported, and connected to mental health resources changed his trajectory. He now dedicates his life to service and contribution.

At a community event, a Veteran tied a VA Crisis Line bandana to his dog’s collar. When his battle buddy in another state called, expressing suicidal thoughts, he shared that number. The buddy promised to call—and did—connecting with care just in time.

Vets4Warriors, a 24/7 confidential peer-support service, handled over 955,000 contacts in the past year, with 8,400 first-time reach-outs. Its volunteers report countless moments where a single late-night call prevented a suicide.

Marine Veteran Andrew Appleton, struggling with severe leg pain and despair, nearly gave up before VA care intervened. Addressing his physical pain and emotional health simultaneously saved his life.

Proven Interventions and Positive Trends

• VA’s expanded emergency suicide care reached nearly 50,000 Veterans in 2023—free, immediate access to lifesaving inpatient and outpatient services.
• Caring Letters campaigns mailed over 500,000 letters to Veterans, reminding them they matter and increasing engagement with care.
• Warrior Care Network offers intensive, family-inclusive treatment for PTSD and TBI, showing lasting symptom improvement for at least a year.
• REACH VET and VA Telehealth identified over 23,000 at-risk Veterans and delivered more than 12,000 assessments, reducing suicidal ideation.
• Suicide rates among female Veterans dropped 24.1 percent from 2021 to 2022. Young Veterans aged 18–34 saw a 3.8 percent decrease. Long-term, suicide rates tied to PTSD, depression, and anxiety diagnoses have declined steadily since 2001.

Actionable Tools for Veterans and Families

• Wingman Project / Ask–Care–Escort (ACE): Learn to spot signs, ask directly, care genuinely, and escort peers to help.
• Safety Planning and Means Safety: Create crisis plans and store firearms and medications safely.
• Frequent Check-Ins: Schedule regular calls or visits—connection is a protective factor.
• Accessible Mental Health Care: Use VA, Warrior Care Network, or community providers offering evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Processing Therapy or Prolonged Exposure.
• Engage Early: Don’t wait for a crisis—call the Veterans Crisis Line (988, press 1) or reach out through Vets4Warriors or local Veteran groups.

Why Counting Saves Changes Everything

Counting losses honors the fallen. Counting saves energy. It focuses resources on what works, inspires those still struggling, and reminds military families that their efforts matter. Veterans like Brian Wilson and Angie Lupe prove that even in the darkest hour, love, connection, and the right tools can pull someone back.

Every saved life—every late-night phone call, every bandana number shared, every therapy session attended—is a victory. These victories are not soft anecdotes. They are measurable proof: hope is a strategy, and it works.

A Mission of Hope

The phrase “22 a day” does not have to define our future. Veterans, families, and communities are already rewriting this narrative. They are counting the lives saved—like the buddy who called, the Marine who asked for help, the wounded warrior who spoke up, and the spouse who never quit checking in.

If you or someone you love is struggling:

• Dial 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line.
• Visit a VA or community provider—no-cost crisis care is available.
• Send a text, make a call, or share a resource today. Small actions save lives.

And if you want to be part of Counting the Saves, you don’t need a uniform or a platform:

• Reach out to someone today—a former battle buddy, a neighbor, or a military spouse—simply to check in. A five-minute conversation can shift a life’s direction.
• Share a real save story or a resource on your social media, VFW post, or unit briefing. Hope spreads when it’s spoken aloud. Consider adding #CountingTheSaves when you post to amplify the mission and show that hope is contagious.
• Support peer networks and Veteran nonprofits—volunteer, donate, or amplify their programs to make a meaningful impact. Your effort sustains the work that quietly saves lives every day.
• Model openness about mental health. Normalize conversations about struggle and healing in your unit, family, or community. When we talk, others feel permission to reach out.

Every action—large or small—adds another thread to the tapestry of hope. Counting the saves isn’t just a statistic; it’s a mindset we can all live by. Veterans and military families, your voices, compassion, and persistence will keep rewriting this story—until “22 a day” is replaced by the countless saves we celebrate together.

Suggested reads:

• Women Veterans Health in 2026: The Breakthroughs, Barriers, and Policy Shifts You Need to Know
• TRICARE Open Season 2026: What Retirees & Veterans Should Know
• VA Stopping Paper Checks: What Veterans Need to Know After the Deadline