Eight suicide attempts reported during USS Lincoln deployment

WASHINGTON: Eight US Navy personnel assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during its lengthy deployment, according to a newly disclosed letter from Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

The disclosure has renewed scrutiny of the conditions faced by sailors during one of the US Navy’s longest recent deployments, which included combat operations connected to the Iran war. Importantly, Cao said no service member died by suicide during the deployment.

The figures were provided in response to questions from Gillibrand about the morale, living conditions and mental health of personnel serving with the Lincoln strike group. Cao said the eight attempts occurred across the wider strike group rather than solely aboard the aircraft carrier.

The figure includes personnel from the USS Abraham Lincoln, its carrier air wing, strike group and destroyer squadron staffs, escorting destroyers and embarked aviation squadrons.

Extended Deployment Raises Concerns

The Abraham Lincoln’s deployment began in November 2025 and was initially scheduled to conclude in May. The mission was subsequently extended as the regional conflict continued, keeping thousands of sailors at sea for an unusually long period.

The carrier eventually made a port visit to Thailand in September after spending 286 days at sea, according to reporting based on the Navy’s disclosures. The extended period away from normal port visits has prompted questions about the effect of prolonged deployments on service members’ wellbeing.

Reports earlier this year had highlighted concerns about mental health and living conditions aboard the carrier. Among the incidents disclosed by Cao was an attempt by a sailor to go overboard in March that was stopped by fellow crew members. In August, another sailor went overboard, was rescued and received medical treatment before being transferred off the ship for further care.

The disclosure has also brought renewed attention to reports about shortages and delays involving some basic supplies. Cao acknowledged that there had been delays in replenishing certain items, while saying the crew continued to receive four nutritionally balanced meals each day.

Navy Says Sailor Wellbeing Remains a Priority

US Navy officials have said the wellbeing of service members remains a priority and that medical, religious and mental-health professionals are available to address concerns.

The newly disclosed number provides a broader picture of the challenges faced by the strike group during its prolonged mission. According to CNN reporting, the eight attempts were spread across a force of roughly 6,000 to 7,000 sailors serving on several ships. The Navy’s 2024 data recorded 356 suicide attempts among about 337,000 active-duty sailors, providing a broader benchmark for comparison.

The disclosure has intensified congressional attention on deployment length, operational demands and access to mental-health support for sailors returning from extended combat missions.

For the Lincoln strike group, the latest figures underline the human pressures that can accompany prolonged military deployments, even when no deaths by suicide occur.