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Eight US sailors in USS Abraham Lincoln strike group attempted suicide, Navy says
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao revealed that eight crew members assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during their extended deployment in the Middle East.
- Cao stated that mental health support was available on board, including five chaplains and multiple mental health professionals, and denied a widespread mental health crisis or severe supply shortages.
- Senator Kirsten Gillibrand criticized previous dismissals of sailors' concerns by the Trump administration, calling the treatment of service members "completely unacceptable."
- The USS Abraham Lincoln was deployed since November for missions including the South China Sea and Middle East, with its deployment extended multiple times before being replaced by the USS George Washington in August.
- Suicide remains a leading cause of death among US Navy and Marine personnel, with studies indicating higher rates of serious psychological distress among sailors compared to other military branches.
