Why is Big Navy mum on mental health care shortages, long wait times?

[Tony]

As the United States grapples with a shortage of mental health providers in a time of increased need, the Navy is also struggling to fill such positions for the fleet, according to data provided by the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

But while BUMED officials provided basic numbers to Navy Times last month, they did not respond to a request for an interview with leadership for a deeper look at the challenge of filling the shortages and the long wait times sailors are reporting when they seek the mental health help that leadership encourages them to get.