Brandon’s parents: GW report shows need for more progress in military mental health

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The couple whose son died by suicide and inspired a mental health law say a new report on the suicides connected to USS George Washington is shocking, but not necessarily surprising.

NBC News reported this week about the dismissive, toxic climate among command members of the GW during a time when several crew members died by suicide.

Teri and Patrick Caserta spoke with WAVY Thursday morning after reading the report. They lost their son Brandon to suicide on Naval Station Norfolk in 2018, but used his death to inspire the Brandon Act, a federal law that gives military members better access to mental health resources.

Previously: ‘Brandon Act’ now fully implemented across US military

The NBC report used internal command emails obtained through the Freedom of Information Act to portray a a climate of anger and confusion at a time when the ship had five crew suicides in one year, including three in one week in April 2022.

“It’s very disturbing,” said Patrick Caserta, a Navy veteran himself. “Nothing even comes close to what happened with that particular ship.”

The GW was in refueling and complex overhaul at the Newport News Shipyard for nearly six years. Crew members and their families complained of substandard conditions, including lack of hot water, malfunctioning toilets and HVAC, and constant construction noise.

In the emails, command described the complaints and subsequent media coverage as exaggerated.

But those sailors and families were contacting the Casertas directly for support.

“All these people calling us and parents talking to us, they were all telling the truth,” Patrick Caserta said.

Teri Caserta says media coverage of what was going on with the Norfolk-based carrier was vital.

“I believe the public deserves to know what goes on in our our military,” she said. “We send our sons and daughters to serve our country honorably and with dignity. And if they’re dying by suicide, isn’t that a sign that that is not happening?”

One email described how the commanding officer had a “mini panic attack” when three crew suicides happened in one week. Patrick Caserta said it showed the leaders’ priorities were misplaced.

“[They’re] worried about the CO,” he said. “You need to worry about the crew. Put the crew first. [That way] people won’t die.”

The Brandon Act went into effect last summer after the Casertas fought for it for several years. They say it’s gaining momentum, but not all outcomes are positive.

“A lot of service members and family members contact me and say I want you to know my son or daughter invoked the Brandon Act,” Teri Caserta said. “But they’re still getting their appointments to mental health canceled. I’ve had a lot of that. [Command tells them], you can’t go. We’re too busy.”

“There’s some hardcore and toxic leaders out there and some hardcore commands out there,” Patrick Caserta said.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) serves on the Armed Services Committee and said the report on the George Washington situation was heartbreaking.

“Seeing some of the emails and the exchanges about what can we do, things are going wrong, we can’t seem to work our way out of it — it was painful,” Kaine said.

The Armed Services Committee will meet in early May for its annual hearing with the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations.

“You’re gonna hear me asking questions about the Brandon Act and other steps that we’re taking to protect the mental and physical health of our sailors,” Kaine said.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-TALK.

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