There have been eight suicide attempts aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during the carrier's drawn-out deployment, according to a Navy letter obtained by NBC News. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao disclosed the figure in a response to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who has been pressing the Pentagon on conditions aboard the ship. Two sailors jumped overboard while the Lincoln was still in the Middle East; details of the other six attempts have not been revealed. No deaths by suicide have been reported. The number "includes the Lincoln crew and sailors from the carrier air wing, strike group, and destroyer squadron staff, escorting destroyers, and all embarked aviation squadron," per the Guardian.
The Lincoln spent 286 days at sea without a port stop while backing US operations in the war with Iran, far longer than standard six- to seven-month deployments with regular resupply visits. Relatives have described food shortages, low morale, and mounting mental strain, claims some commanders have downplayed. The Navy says it has chaplains, mental health professionals, and other support staff on board and that sailors' well-being is a priority. The Lincoln is currently sailing back to San Diego after finally getting shore leave in Thailand this month. CNN reports the attempted suicide rate for the deployment is "roughly consistent" with the rate across the entire active-duty Navy in 2024. If you or anyone you know is struggling, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or chat at 988lifeline.org.
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
