We owe our freedoms to the service and sacrifice of our dedicated service members both past and present. Unfortunately, these men and women often trade one battle for another when they return home. Some of our soldiers, both active and former, suffer from PTSD, depression and other mental health issues.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the suicide rate for veterans in Indiana is higher than it is nationally. In 2021, more than 100 veterans lost their lives to suicide. Research also indicates missing persons are more likely to harm themselves.
To help bring active and former military members who are suffering from a mental health crisis, I supported a new law creating Indiana's first statewide public alert system for at-risk active and former military members.
The Green Alert, similar to Indiana's Amber Alert for missing children and Silver Alert for missing seniors, will notify the public when a veteran or military service member is missing and is at risk of being hurt or hurting themselves. This alert could be issued for veterans, active service members, Indiana National Guard members and reservists within 48 hours of them being reported missing. The notification will include a description and last known location of the at-risk individual. This alert system will activate public safety officials sooner and notify community members to be on the lookout, which could ultimately generate more leads and result in a safe return.
This new law was inspired by an Air Force veteran in Wisconsin who went missing in 2017 during a time when he was receiving treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Since there was not a specialized public alert system for missing veterans, the search for him was delayed and he was sadly found dead two weeks after his family reported him missing. His family successfully pushed for the creation of a Green Alert in their home state to prevent similar tragedies in the future and that's led other states like ours to take action.
It's my hope that Indiana's new Green Alert not only helps save lives but generates awareness about the unique challenges that our military and veterans face. We know that returning to civilian life can present new stresses and it's important for them to maintain connections with family and friends.
If you or someone you know is currently experiencing thoughts of suicide, emotional distress or a mental health or substance use crisis, please dial the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 and then press 1, or send a text to 838255 for confidential crisis support 24/7. Callers do not have to be enrolled in Veterans Affairs benefits or health care to connect. You can also visit veteranscrisisline.net and chat online with a caring VA responder.
Hope and help are available to our veterans and their families, and I'm dedicated to continuing to support them just as they served to protect us.
