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'Green Alert' for veterans at risk who go missing being considered by Indiana lawmakers

According to a report from the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs, 139 Hoosier veterans died by suicide in 2021.

INDIANAPOLIS — By now, most people know what an Amber Alert is.

That’s the notification that gets broadcast when a child is missing and believed to be in danger.

There’s also a Silver Alert for missing people who may be in danger because of a physical or mental disability.

Now, Indiana lawmakers are considering a bill to create an alert for veterans. The alert would be called a “Green Alert.”

It’s for veterans or military service members who go missing and who are considered at risk.

Just like the Amber and Silver alerts, when an at-risk veteran goes missing in Indiana, a notification would go out from the Indiana State Police. That alert would be broadcast or put up on electric billboards.

According to a 2020 report from the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs, more than 6,000 veterans nationwide died by suicide that year.

In 2021, according to a report from the department, 139 Hoosier veterans died by suicide that year.

House Bill 1021 creating a Green Alert received broad support from veterans’ groups and first responders who testified Monday on the bill.

“I do believe it helps with suicide prevention. We’re losing 20 to 22 veterans to suicide almost every day, and so having this, also so emergency people can get on it and find them before they do harm to themselves, is also something else that is helpful to this situation,” said Richard Ellis, who’s with the VFW and a Vietnam Veteran.

This is the fourth year a bill has been filed calling for a Green Alert.

This is the first time this kind of bill has ever received a hearing so lawmakers could really consider it.

The bill’s author, Rep. Mitch Gore, D-District 89, said if HB 1021 passes the House, there are already lawmakers in the Senate ready to sponsor it.

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