New green alert law in place for veterans, active duty military

 

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Along with a series of other laws from the most recent legislative session, HEA 1021 went into effect on Monday, a law that establishes green alerts.

These alerts are similar in procedure to Amber or silver alerts that are sent directly to mobile devices on a statewide level.

Green alerts are designed to notify law enforcement and the public that a missing person is an at-risk veteran who may be undergoing a mental health crisis.

According to the Indiana Department of Health, the Hoosier State has a 5% higher rate of veteran suicide than the national average.

Local veteran resources leaders believe that the green alert is a more aggressive outreach to vets in need and acts as another layer of support.

The Veteran Crisis Hotline can be reached by calling 9-8-8-1, and the service is available 24/7.