Footage shows inside the US Navy ship where multiple sailor suicides occurred - CNN Video

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Investigations
Following the most recent suicides, the Navy opened two investigations. The first, which is expected to be completed soon, looks specifically at the recent deaths on board the ship. The second, broader investigation will examine the command climate and culture at the shipyard in Newport News, including the housing, parking, and quality of life issues.

The Navy is “confident that our comprehensive investigation and assessment into the command climate and various quality of life issues will identify areas for future improvements as well as provide recommendations for immediate action,” said Commander Myers.

The commander of US Naval Air Force Atlantic, Admiral John Meier, said the ship also added more mental health resources, such as a special intervention team and an additional psychologist. Crewmembers aboard the USS George Washington will also have access to tele-mental health resources as well and on-board training for junior sailors.

The increase in mental health resources is long overdue, according to the sailors who spoke with CNN. Though the ship had a clinical psychologist, sailors said they would have to wait months for an appointment.

When Jacob Grella, who spent most of his time in the Navy assigned to the George Washington, found out he was assigned to the carrier, which was a short drive from his family in Richmond, Virginia, he said on Facebook that he was “So Freaking Happy.” But it didn’t take long for his occasional weekend trips home to become a chance to escape from the ship.

Grella said he tried to schedule a visit to the ship’s psychologist during his last year on the ship.

When he did, he was met with “a six-month wait period,” at which point “I would’ve been almost out of the Navy.”

Despite his frustration, Grella and many of the other sailors who spoke with CNN believed that a profound change in the culture and the climate of the ship was achievable.

“I think that’s definitely possible,” he said, “but for that to happen, I think at this point accountability needs to be held for everybody. you need to start looking at what’s causing the setbacks and who’s causing this negative treatment and the mindsets on these poor kids.”"