“Asked about the deaths in the crew of the aircraft carrier, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said, ‘I wish I could tell you we have an answer to prevent further, future suicides in the Armed Services. We don’t. We are caught up in what some call a national epidemic of suicide among our youth.'” NBC News: Military suicides reach record high among active duty members. (I’ve long wondered whether this increase could be related to an increased use of psychopharmaceuticals which are often associated with suicidal ideation.)