Jaimie Bethea, 21, a Navy communications specialist aboard the USS Fort Lauderdale, died by suicide on June 20, weeks before the ship was to return to Norfolk, Virginia. Her family, including sister Arianna Calderon, questions if the Navy did enough to help her mental health during deployment.
Bethea's deployment came months after her mother died of cancer. She sought mental health treatment and was prescribed antidepressants but struggled with nightmares and depression at sea. The ship's deployment to the Caribbean was repeatedly extended, adding to her stress. Tiana Cook, a friend, said Bethea complained about medication shortages and described waking up crying and exhausted.
Bethea's final message to Cook around 12:30 a.m. on June 20 was, “I love you guys. I need you to know that.” After her death, Cook and another friend revealed Bethea had attempted suicide months earlier. Calderon believes the Navy should have removed her from the ship.
The Navy has not responded to NPR's questions. The USS Fort Lauderdale, with about 350 crew, lacks onboard mental health specialists, raising concerns about resources for sailors on lengthy deployments.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing