Eight US sailors in USS Abraham Lincoln strike group attempted suicide, Navy says
The US Navy disclosed that eight sailors assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during a lengthy deployment. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao detailed the mental health resources available in a letter to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, while denying widespread food shortages or a broader mental health crisis on board.
Why it matters
Brings renewed scrutiny to the mental health and living conditions of military personnel during extended naval deployments.
Image source, Getty Images By Sareen Habeshian Published 25 minutes ago Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao has said that eight crew members who were assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during their lengthy deployment.
The disclosure was made in a letter to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York on Tuesday in response to questions from the Democrat on the well-being of sailors onboard following mounting concerns.
Family members of sailors had raised alarm about deteriorating mental health and grim conditions. The carrier, which has been deployed since last November, is now returning to the US.
The BBC has contacted the US Navy for comment.
In his letter, Cao said that there were five chaplains and multiple mental health professionals available on board to meet the "spiritual and emotional needs of the crew".
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