USS Abraham Lincoln strike group reports eight suicide attempts

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao disclosed in a letter to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand that eight sailors attempted suicide while deployed with the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group. The deployment, which supported combat operations against Iran, was characterized by an extended period at sea without standard port visits.

The strike group, consisting of approximately 6,000 to 7,000 personnel across several ships, faced high operational demands and continuous threat alarms. Reports indicated that the prolonged deployment led to crew stress, poor mental health, and shortages of essential supplies such as food and hygiene products.

While officials noted that no suicides occurred during this specific deployment, the number of attempts has raised concerns regarding the psychological well-being of personnel operating in high-threat, isolated environments. The disclosures follow inquiries from the Senate Armed Services Committee regarding ship conditions and the availability of mental health support.