U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly is the co-sponsor of a bipartisan suicide prevention bill. It looks especially at veterans and young people.
Donnelly says some veterans have issues with post-traumatic stress disorder and need someone to talk to, while the impulsive acts of teenagers can have dire consequences. The goal is to make sure both groups of people have someone to talk to when they are struggling to cope.
The bill cosponsored by Donnelly and Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah looks to make it easy for people in crisis to get help by setting up a three-digit hotline, similar to 911 or 411. People who are feeling suicidal would be able to call and speak to a trained professional.
The bill as proposed would task the Federal Communications Commission to collaborate with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs on proposals to reform the current national suicide hotline system.
