Thursday is "Buddy Check 22 Day" and mental health experts are urging friends and families of America’s military veterans and service members to reach out to them as a way of preventing suicide.
Statistics show that, on average, some 22 past and present military personnel — depressed and unable to cope — take their own lives every day.
"Suicide, we know, is a serious problem with our veterans and our service members," Dr. Caitlyn Thompson, the VA national mental health director, suicide prevention and community engagement, said Thursday on "Newsmax Now" with John Bachman.
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"Just that small act or that small effort of reaching out and just checking in with somebody … that small two-minute action can really change the life in a veteran's life."
One way of helping is joining "Buddy Check 22" on Facebook — a resource group that helps veterans in need.
"I've joined, I'm going to be checking in on some of my veteran friends today," Thompson said.
In June, new government research revealed that the suicide rate of female military veterans is nearly six times the rate of other women.
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