A study published in 2012 determined that an average of 22 veterans kill themselves every day. While the study itself has proved somewhat controversial — some say the number is probably lower, while others insist it’s actually higher — everyone agrees that veteran suicide is an issue that we should take very seriously.
For Army paratrooper Sgt. Gabe Gonzalez, the realities of veteran suicide are personal. He’s knows several members of his first combat deployment to kill themselves over the past few years.
When the Fort Bragg, North Carolina-based infantryman got word that the most recent military member to kill themselves was none other than his best friend, he knew he had to do something.
“I felt so bad. I wish there had been something I could have done,” he reflected.
On April 18, Gonzalez decided to take action. While there was nothing he could do to bring back the friends he had already lost, he hoped to contribute in some small way to helping future vets feel less alone amongst this epidemic of suicides.
Gonzalez posted a video of himself doing 22 pushups on Instagram accompanied by the hashtag “#22KILL” and challenged his followers to do the same. He continued to post this challenge day after day with the same hashtag.
Whether or not the estimated 22 veterans a day who kill themselves is too high or low, Gonzalez knew it was a problem worth spreading. In tandem with other veterans who shared his frustrations, Gonzalez continued to post and take part of the campaign.
“This is something that’s actually happening,” Gonzalez says. “I know it’s real.”
Marine veteran Jimmy Mac, program manager for the nonprofit 22Kill that introduced the hashtag, began the campaign after facing his own suicide attempt and seeing those around him suffering from similar destructive behaviors.
“We’d been using the hashtag since 2013 to help raise awareness, but we’re not even sure who actually started the pushup challenge. All we know is that it was sometime late last year,” Mac explained. “I wish we knew who that first person was because I’d like to buy them dinner and give them a big hug.”
Following in the footsteps of campaigns like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, #22KILL started slow before exploding. In recent weeks, several veterans groups have begun promoting it. The challenge evolved into the idea of doing 22 pushups for 22 days.
The nonprofit now estimates that some 4.5 million pushups had been completed since the campaign launched late last year. That’s up from 300,000 just a few months ago.
The goal: reach 22 million pushups.
Beyond raising awareness, the 22Kill nonprofit is donating all funds to sponsor veterans in programs designed to help manage depression, brain injuries, post-traumatic stress and other common military related injuries and syndromes. Since Jan. 1, the group has raised nearly $300,000.
Gonzalez is determined to go beyond the challenge.
“I’m going beyond 22 days,” he declares. “I’m going to keep going, every day. Because this is real.”