The Navy wants to boost morale after several suicides. Some sailors say it's not enough.
NBC NewsBy Deon J. Hampton and Melissa Chan
May 5, 2022
Team-building events are in the works for sailors on the USS George Washington, where three shipmates died by suicide within a week in April.
But some sailors who spoke to NBC News think the efforts don’t go far enough.
The Navy plans to host a day of team-building activities and has asked each department to submit ideas for how crew members could interact off the ship, according to Lt. Cmdr. Robert Myers, a Navy spokesman.
“It could be anything,” Myers said.
A Super Smash Bros. video game competition and a soccer tournament are some of the suggestions that have been floated, according to one George Washington sailor, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation.
However, that sailor doubted whether such events would fix what appears to be a mental health crisis on the ship.
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Well alrighty then! Seems like they got a plan. I hope you caught the solutions they wanted to try.
More than 200 sailors moved off aircraft carrier after multiple suicides “Leadership is actively implementing these and pursuing a number of additional morale and personal well-being measures and support services to members assigned to USS George Washington.”
Are they kidding? Seriously? Super Smash Bros and soccer will really fix a mental health crisis about the same way reminding suicidal veterans there were a lot of other veterans committing suicide. Insanity will not help the mental health of anyone.
As for Lt. Cmdr. Robert Myers saying "It could be anything." That is yet another head smack moment.
Here's thought, how about actually knowing enough about PTSD, trauma, stress and a lot of other things first and then maybe, it would be a good idea to go from there? If they don't understand what causes a mental health crisis by now, it's time for the leaders to be held accountable, especially when they come up with these cockamamie conclusions!
