Family members and sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have expressed growing concerns about mental health and the risk of self-harm due to an extended deployment in the Middle East. During town hall meetings with Navy leadership, including Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, family members reported distressing messages from sailors, including one stating, 'he hopes he doesn’t wake up tomorrow.'
Navy officials acknowledged the concerns and stated that sailors have access to mental health resources, including counselors and chaplains. The USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed for over eight months, logging 250 consecutive days at sea and supporting continuous combat operations. The crew has faced challenges such as food and water shortages, disrupted mail service, and long work hours without regular port calls, which typically provide relief.
Sailors have reported declining morale and exhaustion, with some expressing a desire to return home rather than continue with the deployment. The Navy has stated that it is assessing the psychological readiness of its sailors and is working to enhance mental health support on board. However, specific details regarding the response to family concerns were not disclosed.