Acting United States Navy Secretary Hung Cao says eight crew members assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during its lengthy deployment.

Cao disclosed this in a letter to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, responding to questions about the well-being of sailors aboard the carrier.

The disclosure follows concerns raised by family members over the mental health of sailors and conditions during the vessel's prolonged mission in the Middle East. The USS Abraham Lincoln had been deployed since November and is now returning to the United States.

In his letter, Cao said five chaplains and several mental health professionals were available on board to meet the spiritual and emotional needs of the crew.

He said the eight sailors included members of the Lincoln's crew, carrier air wing, strike group and destroyer squadron staff, as well as personnel from escorting destroyers and embarked aviation squadrons.

Support: anyone in Nigeria who needs to talk to someone can reach the Nigerian Mental Health suicide prevention line on 0806 210 6493, or the Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative on 0809 111 6264.