US Navy investigating 4 apparent suicides in a month at same facility
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US Navy investigating 4 apparent suicides in a month at same facility
CNN
December 2, 2022, 5:39 PM
The US Navy is investigating four apparent suicides in a one-month period at a shore-based facility to determine whether the deaths are related in any way and whether sailors had enough mental health and medical support, according to a Navy official familiar with the situation. ... The deaths by suicide from October 30 to November 26 involved enlisted sailors at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center in Norfolk, Virginia.
The Navy confirmed the four recent deaths, with Navy Capt. Jay Young, the commanding officer of MARMC, saying in a statement to CNN: It is with a heavy heart we can confirm that four Sailors assigned to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) in Norfolk, Virginia, have died in the last month. The circumstances surrounding these separate incidents are currently under investigation by local police departments and the U.S. Navy. ... We mourn the loss of our shipmates and friends, Young said.
Each of the deaths is being individually investigated under standard Navy procedures. But there is also a command investigation into whether the deaths may have been a result of any common circumstances, the official said. The Navy has brought in mental health and trauma counselors and held multiple mandatory suicide awareness and prevention briefings. ... One suicide is too many and MARMC leadership is taking a proactive approach to support the team, improve mental fitness, and manage the stress of its Sailors. We remain fully engaged with our Sailors and their families to ensure their health and well-being, and to ensure a climate of trust that encourages Sailors to ask for help, Young said.
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center has about 3,000 personnel of which 1,500 are active duty. About a quarter of those on active duty typically are personnel assigned to the center on restricted duty because they are unable to serve aboard ships due to physical or mental health reasons. The Navy, citing privacy, declined to speak about the duty status of the four deceased sailors.
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Editors Note: If you or a loved one have contemplated suicide, call The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to connect with a trained counselor.
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