Current Events > US Navy Punishes Suicidal Seaman Who Sought Mental Health Treatment

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https://www.rentonreporter.com/news/us-navy-punishes-suicidal-sailor-who-sought-mental-health-treatment/

A Federal Way natives struggle to find mental health treatment in the U.S. Navy has attracted the attention of a local Congressman and a national advocacy organization.
Michael Gregg sounded eerily quiet on their October phone call, his mother said.
His mother, Farrah Gregg, said she and her son are very close and talk on the phone several times a week. On that October evening, he confided in his mother the words she never expected to hear.
He said Mama, I almost committed suicide. I worked the night shift and I almost jumped off the boat, Farrah Gregg said. Michael Gregg had never been stationed on a Navy ship before and one night during underway, which is a training operations session out at sea in preparation for deployment, he had found himself at a point of the ship where only a thin rope separates an individual from the 40-meter drop to the water below.

It scared him, Farrah Gregg said, adding that she asked him to go get help immediately, and he went to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth hospital in Virginia. I said Baby, go. Go.

But when Michael Gregg sought help for what would later be diagnosed as severe depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder, he was met with rejection and demotion from commanders of the United States Navy.
Im afraid of the Navy now, Farrah Gregg said. I dont trust the Navy.

Michael Gregg, 24, graduated from Todd Beamer High School in 2016. He enlisted in the Navy in March 2018 and was stationed on the USS Dwight Eisenhower in Virginia.
In mid-October, Michael Gregg checked himself into Portsmouth Naval hospital where he was diagnosed with adjustment disorder, severe anxiety and severe depression, deeming his suitability for continued service as highly doubtful, according to doctors notes provided to the Mirror.
The following day, Michael Gregg saw the ships psychologist and explained his suicidal thoughts. The lieutenant allegedly told him to come back for breathing exercises the next Thursday 10 days away.
At his October walk-in appointment, Michael was screened by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) ship psychologist and there was no indication of an acute risk of ASAN Gregg engaging in suicide-related behavior, and a hospitalization requirement was not indicated, said Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, Commander of the Naval Air Force Atlantic.
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower has two Fleet and Family Support Center Deployed Resiliency Counselors, chaplains, a psychologist, psychologist technicians, and 65 trained resiliency mentors embarked to support crew health, Cragg said, noting that the USS Eisenhower is committed to ensuring all sailors receive immediate, holistic and well-rounded mental health care.
Michael Gregg said he was presented with three options, including taking medication, which was discouraged due to his religion; a six-day therapy session; or voluntary commitment on the ship.
Each option had Michael Gregg returning to the USS Eisenhower, and doctors had determined the ship was a trigger point for his suicidal thoughts.
Ive never heard of somebody going back the third time in two days after being rejected to still be rejected, Farrah Gregg said of her sons multiple attempts to seek professional help.
The alleged lack of help sent Michael into a depressive state where he could not leave his bed and would not eat for several days. At this point, Farrah Gregg said, Michaels lieutenant sent a note to Michael that said he has an unauthorized absence (UA), and if he didnt return to the ship by Oct. 26, his pay would be cut.
The Naval Military Personnel Manual (MILPERSMAN) sets standard procedures for commands to follow when an enlisted member is absent without proper authority, said Cmdr. Cragg. On the fifth day of an unauthorized absence (UA), the disbursing office will stop all pay allotments and may be determined a deserter after being absent without authority for 30 consecutive days.
Cragg said Michael was informed that his pay would be stopped if he remained absent for more than five days.
ASAN Gregg absented himself without authority on Oct. 19, 2020. On Nov. 17, 2020, command leadership notified ASAN Gregg that he would be declared a deserter in accordance with standard policy unless he returned to work by November 18, 2020, Cragg said.
The physical and mental health, safety, and spiritual wellness of all Sailors continues to be a top priority for USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) leadership, said Cragg.
Theyre going to hurt me, mama
With her son seemingly out of ways to advocate for himself, Farrah Gregg took a redeye flight from Seattle and landed in Virginia on Oct. 25.
Your people have failed my son, Farrah Gregg said of the Navy. This is why Im doing it.
She took her son to Riverside Behavioral Health Center and was issued a five-day excuse as they also diagnosed him with severe depression and anxiety due to the ship.
Farrah and Michael Gregg sought help from psychologist Dr. Mary Lou Rubert of Hampton Mental Health Associates in Virginia. She diagnosed him with major depression, anxiety and PTSD and said he should be medically separated from the ship, according to the doctors notes. Rubert wrote a letter to excuse Michael Gregg from work from Nov. 6-17.
Psychologist Dr. William Bates also evaluated Michael Gregg, urging Navy command to assign him shore duty as his progression of panic attacks made him fear not performing his duties could result in personal injury or injuries to his aviation team and command, and that being aboard [the] ship exacerbates symptoms of his mental health disorders.

There's a lot more in the article.

I know the military isn't the best at mental health but they've really stepped up their game since the War on Terror began. Obviously it isn't perfect but for something this egregious to happen recently is sickening.

I mean I get why they punished him, you can't just go AWOL but ffs if you know he's been seeing behavioral health for suicidal ideation, and he misses even a single formation, you should be out there finding him to make sure he's not fucking dead. And if you've established contact, work with him to address his concerns. He's clearly not fit for duty any longer, at least on the Eisenhower. Get him off the ship, get him to a different command (I know the Army has these systems in place for victims of sexual assault, I presume there exists similar 'no questions asked' tranferals for other branches and situations) and see how he reacts. If it doesn't work out then get him out of military service.

This is a disgusting look for the Navy and it should never have escalated the way it did.

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I also thought the military had been doing better with mental health..

Ruvan22 posted...

I also thought the military had been doing better with mental health..

The military just wants mindless drones to go and kill people.
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did he delete that message or did it get modded lol

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My impression of the military overall is that it is a cult designed to wipe away personality in lieu of following orders and "discipline"

TC, this is reinforced by your continual notion that the US Army bought your soul. It's not cute when you say that; it's revolting.

Socrawheeze posted...

My impression of the military overall is that it is a cult designed to wipe away personality in lieu of following orders and "discipline"

TC, this is reinforced by your continual notion that the US Army bought your soul. It's not cute when you say that; it's revolting.

Because that is effectively what it is, except without a devotion to one specific individual. Our loyalty is supposed to be to the Constitution and Country.

and it's not really supposed to be cute or anything <_<

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wackyteen posted...

Our loyalty is supposed to be to the Constitution and Country.

bang up job, fellas

Military side of things notwithstanding, I have yet to see any administrative entity handle mental health issues, especially suicidal ideation, in a way that doesn't border on absolute callousness.

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suicidal semen is just..........................

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Socrawheeze posted...

My impression of the military overall is that it is a cult designed to wipe away personality in lieu of following orders and "discipline"

TC, this is reinforced by your continual notion that the US Army bought your soul. It's not cute when you say that; it's revolting.

Based on experience I can tell you that your impression is wrong.

The military is however designed to teach you to put your own needs last, which isnt conducive for someone suffering from mental health issues and is why many service members bottle up their emotions.