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Families and members of Congress have raised alarms about what they describe as a deepening mental health crisis aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, with reports saying sailors tried to jump overboard during a record-breaking deployment linked to the conflict involving Iran.
Two specialist military publications, Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, reported multiple incidents in which crew members attempted to jump into the sea. The allegations come as the aircraft carrier’s crew has spent the ninth month at sea and has accumulated 250 consecutive days without making landfall, a modern record for an aircraft carrier.
Families question leadership at town hall
Stars and Stripes said military families voiced their concerns directly to senior Navy figures at an emotional community meeting in San Diego last Thursday. The publication said about 200 family members attended a town hall that included Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao and other senior officials.
Several relatives described distress about the conditions their loved ones face. Stars and Stripes reported that one spouse said her husband had texted her that he was worried about not waking up the next day. Another attendee told Cao that, in her view, the service had broken trust between families and command, the paper reported.
Reports cite failed suicide attempts onboard
Navy Times reported details of thwarted suicide attempts during the current deployment. The outlet said a spouse of one sailor described how the man tried to jump overboard after further extensions to time at sea left him exhausted. Another family member described a separate incident in which a sailor stopped a shipmate from attempting to jump, grabbing him and pulling him back on deck.
Congressional figures in California and Colorado also criticised conditions aboard the warship. Mike Levin, a Democratic representative, posted comments on X describing what he said were worsening daily conditions, including inadequate sanitation and extremely limited provisions. Jason Crow, another Democrat, said the pressure on service members and their families on the Lincoln was building steadily.
Warship redirected as fighting with Iran continues
The Lincoln left San Diego on 21 November and was originally expected to operate in the Pacific. The ship was then redirected to the Middle East after the start of the US-Israel war involving Iran, according to the reports.
MS Now said the 5,000-plus crew has had only two days on land since departure: in Guam in December and in Oman in July. The deployment was originally due to end in May but has been extended more than once as the wider conflict continued.
In April, public criticism grew after photos emerged showing what campaigners and lawmakers described as poor-quality and rationed food, along with reports of water shortages, mould in showers and broken laundry equipment. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed the accounts as “more fake news”, Levin later said he responded to the comment, arguing that service members still deserved basic amenities such as clean water, functioning toilets and adequate meals.
Navy response says no increase identified
The Guardian contacted the US Navy for comment on reports of attempts to jump overboard. After the article was published, a Navy official said the service recognised that extended deployments place significant strain on service members and their families and that it valued their “resilience and sacrifices”.
The official said that, based on information available to the command, there had been no identified increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship. The Navy also said religious, medical and mental health professionals were available as part of a “comprehensive support network”, including onboard deployment-resilience counsellors and chaplains.
The official said the war had disrupted some traditional supply routes, but added that reports from the ship confirm continuous access to clean water, functional air conditioning and “healthy meal options”.
Mental health strain on active-duty sailors
Mental health challenges for active-duty US sailors have been widely reported. A study published last year examined stress factors specific to deployed sailors and found that common concerns included loud noises, lack of rest and inadequate mental and physical healthcare. The researchers reported that almost half of deployed sailors surveyed said they were not receiving adequate help to cope with stress at sea, and concluded that improved access to care on ships was urgently needed given rates of military suicide, including within the Navy.
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13 August 2026
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