Navy addresses mental health crisis aboard aircraft carrier USS Lincoln

Families of sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln met with senior Navy officials in San Diego in August 2026. About 200 family members attended the town hall meetings. They raised concerns about food shortages, broken plumbing, and the mental health of sailors at sea. The ship had been deployed for over 200 days, supporting military operations in the Middle East. One wife said her husband sent her a message expressing suicidal thoughts. The Navy said it had not seen a rise in such cases on board. The ship has mental health staff, including a psychologist, a social worker, and five chaplains. Vice Admiral Joseph Cahill said the Navy heard the families' concerns. Members of Congress have called for an investigation into conditions on the ship.