Navy vows mental-health help as Lincoln sailors endure lengthy Middle East deployment
Navy officials, including acting secretary Hung Cao and top admirals, met with about 200 USS Abraham Lincoln families in San Diego to address concerns about sailors’ mental health during an unusually long Middle East deployment. Families described emotional strains, reports of suicidal thoughts, and a sense of broken trust, while the Navy said sailors have access to mental-health workers, chaplains and doctors and is sending more professionals. The Lincoln, with roughly 5,000 crew, has been at sea for more than eight months after being redirected to the Middle East in January, facing food and water shortages and reduced port calls as morale remains low; Navy leaders pledged continued listening and adequate resources to ensure mission safety and success.