CNN had previously reported that two sailors assigned to the Lincoln strike group, including one from the carrier and another from a different ship, had jumped overboard in recent months. Both were rescued, according to US officials.

Other sailors were reportedly prevented from jumping overboard, according to reports cited from Navy Times and Stars and Stripes. The disclosure of eight suicide attempts comes after the Navy previously denied that the Abraham Lincoln was experiencing a mental health crisis.

“We have not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship. We take every service member’s well-being seriously and have religious, medical and mental health professionals available to assess and address concerns as they arise.”

A US official had also previously told CNN that the Navy did not believe there was a correlation between the length of the deployment and thoughts of self-harm. The official also said man-overboard incidents were not unique to the Lincoln strike group.

Concerns about the mental health of sailors had emerged alongside complaints about conditions aboard the carrier. A crew member serving aboard the Lincoln previously told CNN that morale was very low and that they had repeatedly heard about suicidal ideation among fellow crew members.

The sailor also described recurring problems with basic amenities. “Everyday we wake up and listen to our captain speak, we are desperately hoping and anxious for updates on our return,” the crew member said while the carrier was still awaiting orders to return to its home port in San Diego.

Other sailors who spoke with CNN described conditions that they said were different from their previous deployments, largely because of the combat operations that prevented the carrier from making regular stops at friendly ports. Port calls allow ships to take on fresh supplies and give sailors opportunities to rest and relax.

The extended absence of such stops added to the strain of the deployment, according to the sailors cited in the report. The Navy has previously acknowledged supply challenges aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln but rejected broader claims about deteriorating conditions.

Cao's letter denied widespread concerns over broken plumbing and shortages of fresh food. However, he acknowledged temporary “localized piping failures” and problems with the carrier's reverse osmosis desalination units.

The carrier had around 5,000 crew members aboard during its deployment. The USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment stretched across roughly nine months, with the carrier leaving the Middle East in August and expected to return to San Diego in the coming weeks.

In August, the USS George Washington was sent to replace the Abraham Lincoln following its nine-month deployment. The Lincoln's prolonged deployment included combat operations against Iran and an extended period without regular port calls, while the Navy maintained that it had not observed an increase in suicidal ideation or attempts aboard the ship.

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