Does this controversial new Netflix series glorify suicide?
A popular new TV show is under fire for tackling a controversial issue in a way that some say glamorizes mental health issues.
Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why” tells the story of a teenage girl who’s killed herself, leaving behind audiotapes as a kind of note explaining the 13 reasons why she ended her life. Based on a 2007 young adult novel of the same name, the series is also aimed at a teenage audience and includes warnings prior to its graphic depiction of the act at the center of the story.
Dr. Joanna Lindell, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Advocate Children’s Hospital, calls the show “a far cry from the after-school specials some of us were used to back in the day where the intended moral message was clear and positive.”
“Albeit a cinematic improvement with a mystery-thriller feel in comparison, ‘13 Reasons Why’ can leave many feeling severely disturbed by the sensationalism of suicide, which can easily be perceived as the ultimate ‘solution’ and ‘punishment’ to those who have wronged them,” Dr. Lindell says. “That is not the message we want to be sending to impressionable teens who are struggling and suicide is something they are contemplating.”
The show’s creators and co-producer Selena Gomez, a pop star who’s one of the most followed users on Instagram, say it raises awareness of bullying and other tough issues teens face; Netflix produced a web page of resources related to suicide prevention.
“We wanted to do it in a way where it was honest, and we wanted to make something that can, hopefully, help people, because suicide should never, ever be an option,” Gomez said in “Beyond the Reasons,” a video companion to the series.
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for children and young adults age 10 to 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The executive director of the national nonprofit Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) said he’s concerned the series will result in increased teenage suicides because of how it glorifies the tragedy. SAVE has produced talking points to help parents discuss the series with their teenagers. Among the most notable:
- Suicide is never a heroic or romantic act.
- When you die, you do not get to make a movie or talk to people anymore. Leaving messages from beyond the grave is a dramatization produced in Hollywood and is not possible in real life.
Another advocacy group, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, offers the following tips for parents, friends and others looking to help someone who might be contemplating suicide:
- Take your loved one seriously.
- Listen with empathy and provide support.
- Learn the warning signs:
- Talking about wanting to die
- Looking for ways to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
- Increasing drug or alcohol use
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Withdrawing or isolating
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
- Experiencing extreme mood swings
- Don’t keep suicide a secret.
Related Posts
Comments
4 Comments
About the Author
Lisa Parro, health enews contributor, is a content manager for Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care. A former journalist, Lisa has been in health care public relations since 2008 and has a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. She and her family live in Chicago’s western suburbs.
I am currently watching this series with my 13 year old daughter. I don’t think it’s glorifying suicide at all. If anything it’s showing what bullying can do to a person and also what rape can do! This girl had warning signs and no one saw them. It’s both educational for me and also my daughter. We still have the last episode to watch and I think it’s very sad what that girl went through. Although it was a movie, I can see teenagers doing those things.
Last week my daughters and I finished up this series and this Saturday we spent hours talking. Please re-read that, my 15 and 20 year old daughters sat and talked (sans filter) about sex, peer pressure, drinking, socio economics, suicide, bullying and the list went on and on. Granted, I have always tried to have an open approach to our relationship but this was exceptional in its content and length.
In my opinion I would encourage all parents to watch this and make an educated decision for their family.
A very real situation. There is nothing wrong about learning facts. Ignoring the different situations is worse.
I also do not feel that this series glamorizes mental health issues. I believe it is a very real depiction of our society today with the added ability of cyber bullying being able to reach so many people so fast. I also feel that it is a must watch for healthcare providers, teachers, parents and high school students. These things are happening all around our young people and need to be addressed.