Image Credits: US Navy Eight US Navy personnel assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during the ship’s long deployment, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told Congress. Cao said none of the sailors died by suicide. He gave the figure in a written response to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who had asked about the mental health and morale of sailors during the deployment. The eight sailors were from different parts of the carrier strike group. They included sailors from the USS Abraham Lincoln, its carrier air wing, strike group and destroyer squadron staffs, escorting destroyers and embarked aviation squadrons. About 6,000 to 7,000 sailors served across roughly six ships during the deployment. The carrier had been at sea for more than six months. During that time, it took part in combat operations against Iran and spent long periods without regular port calls. The USS Abraham Lincoln left California in November. It first headed towards the South China Sea before being sent to the Middle East ahead of US attacks on Iran in February. The deployment was supposed to end in May but was extended several times. Regular port calls give sailors a chance to rest, get supplies and spend time away from their ships. The Lincoln did not have those breaks for long periods during the deployment. Cao said the sailors had access to several mental health and support services. The group had five chaplains, an integrated prevention counsellor, a psychologist, a clinical social worker, three behavioural health technicians and an expeditionary facility dog. The Navy had earlier said it had not seen an increase in suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts aboard the Lincoln. It also said medical, religious and mental health staff were available to help sailors. There were also several incidents involving sailors going overboard. Cao said a sailor from the carrier air wing went overboard in early August. The sailor was quickly recovered and treated by the car