U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper has addressed mental health concerns among sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln as the aircraft carrier heads home after more than 260 days in the Middle East. Cooper visited the ship on Saturday during a 10-day trip across the region. He said the visit was inspiring and praised the crew for its work during the long mission. He also spoke about mental health and the stress linked to long periods at sea. Cooper said the Lincoln has one of the lowest numbers of mental health cases among the US Navy's 11 active aircraft carriers. He also said this does not mean every sailor is doing well. Long deployments can be hard for service members. Cooper said sea duty can be challenging and may affect people in different ways. He also noted that people respond to stress in different ways. The Centcom chief said mental health should be treated as part of overall health. He said it needs the same care as physical and spiritual health. Cooper also praised the Lincoln's leaders. He gave special credit to senior enlisted leaders in the Chief Petty Officers Mess. He said they had made mental health and crew strength a key leadership goal. His comments came after reports raised concerns about life aboard the carrier. Some reports described poor conditions during its long deployment. The reports included claims of mold in showers and spoiled food. There were also reports that some sailors tried to jump from the ship. The claims led to growing concern about the mental and physical health of the crew. Democratic lawmakers in Congress have opened inquiries into the condition of sailors and Marines on the Lincoln. They are also looking at how the federal government handled concerns about the crew. The ship left San Diego in November. Its deployment was first expected to end in May. The mission was later extended as the Navy said the situation in the region required the carrier to remain at sea. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said Friday that the Lincoln was returning home. He said the safety and security of sailors and Marines must come first. Cao also said mission success and troop welfare are both key parts of military leadership. The long deployment has placed the Lincoln under close attention as the carrier prepares to return to the United States. The ship spent more than eight months away from home during a period of high military activity in the Middle East. The Navy has rejected claims that conditions on the ship were as serious as some reports suggested. Military officials have said some accounts were overstated or did not give the full picture. Cao has also criticized coverage that he said portrayed US service members as victims. He said the focus should remain on the work carried out by sailors and Marines. The Navy is now preparing another carrier for the region. The USS George Washington is set to replace the Lincoln in the Middle East. The change will allow the Lincoln crew to return home after its extended mission. It also keeps a US carrier in the region as military demands continue. Cooper's comments put mental health back at the center of the discussion about long deployments. His remarks also showed the Navy's effort to present crew welfare as part of mission readiness. Long periods at sea can create unique pressures for sailors. Limited space, time away from family and demanding work can all add stress. The Navy now faces the task of helping the Lincoln crew recover after its extended deployment. Leaders will also face questions from Congress about ship conditions and the support given to sailors. As the Lincoln returns home, the debate over its deployment may continue. For Navy leaders, the challenge will be to balance mission needs with the health and safety of the people carrying out those missions.