Cuesta College makes 22 pushup challenge video for veteran suicide prevention awareness

Faculty, students and veterans at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo have come up with an innovative way of bringing attention to a nationwide veteran issue that some have called an epidemic.

Cuesta College recently put together a video. It features them doing a 22 pushup challenge – all in an effort to bring awareness to veteran suicide prevention. There’s a significance to the 22 pushups they did – it’s estimated that 22 veterans take their own life everyday.

Dr. John Cascamo with Cuesta College says if you think someone is suicidal, to first QUESTION them, ask them directly if they’re suicidal.

If they are, then PURSUADE them – tell them that you care about them.

Finally, REFER them, take that person to get help – an ER, a therapist or an urgent care clinic.

“The veterans that I know who have taken their life all too often it was because of very ordinary problems,” Cuesta College teacher Dr. John Cascamo said.

“Just last month I lost one of my guys from my unit to suicide, couple months before that I lost another,” student veteran Michael Winberry said.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

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