US commander says mental health a 'priority' on USS Lincoln
Adm Brad Cooper acknowledged that navy service at sea for long periods is "uniquely challenging and tough", following a visit to the warship.
The leading US military official in the Middle East has declared mental health a "priority" aboard the USS Lincoln warship, amidst reports of arduous conditions on the vessel, which has been deployed for an extended period.
Following his visit to the ship on Saturday, Admiral Brad Cooper stated that the USS Lincoln recorded "among the lowest number of cases related to mental health" when compared to the 11 active US aircraft carriers. However, he conceded that prolonged Navy service at sea presents "uniquely challenging and tough" circumstances.
The ship reached the Middle East in January and has been involved in supporting the US conflict against Iran, including enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports. It has set an unprecedented record for uninterrupted time at sea, exceeding 240 days.
Relatives of sailors on the Lincoln have voiced worries about the decline in mental health among the crew due to the conditions, with some sailors reportedly attempting to jump overboard.
In a statement released on Sunday, Admiral Cooper remarked, "I've long believed that mental health is another aspect of individual health and requires our attention just like physical health and spiritual health. I applaud Lincoln's leadership for... stepping up and making mental health and crew resilience a leadership priority."
Last week, while the US Navy acknowledged difficulties with supplies, it refuted claims of a mental health crisis on the Lincoln, which carries a crew of 5,000.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed reports of the conditions as "completely misrepresented," and President Donald Trump rejected the notion that the deployment was excessively long, telling reporters on Friday, "Not nearly long enough."
The deployment, initially scheduled to conclude in May, has been prolonged multiple times.