I want to confront the idea that bullies watching "Thirteen Reasons Why" will learn to be careful what they say to others. I’m sorry, but this is false. I want more than anything for this to be true, but coming from experience, it isn’t… and probably never will be.

Back in high school, two people I knew committed suicide. One of those people took a handful of pills, and the other one hung himself. Several girls and guys suffered from obvious self-harm, and one girl, in particular, bragged about it. Kids died from car accidents because they were reckless and drinking while intoxicated. Students overdosed on drugs.

Unfortunately, while all these people had obvious issues with bullying and school drama, no one ever did anything. People were sad for months –even years– after the suicides and unfortunate deaths, but only the kids and families directly connected with the victims ever did anything to try and fix the issues that caused these horrible incidents to occur. No one else cared.

Nothing changed in the larger spectrum. It wasn’t glamorized like on Thirteen Reasons Why, and it never is in real life. Bullies are still bullies, and kids still suffer from serious mental and emotional challenges.

Instead of creating a TV show that is only going to hurt people already suffering, why don’t we do something to actually confront the issues at hand? How about this: hire real counselors for schools, promote anti-bullying before a suicide, and more importantly, teach compassion and love for everyone.

Don’t shower jocks with special attention and ignore other students. Don’t look past signs that someone is suffering from abuse at home. Don’t play off people’s mental disorders. Don’t make fun of someone for their sexual orientation. Don’t tell a student who has been raped to “get over it and move on." Just don’t.

The biggest problem with this is that “bullies” are not the ones going out of their way to watch this show. The ones with the depression are. The ones who suffer from these problems are the ones who are watching this show and feeling even worse because they can relate so well to what they see portrayed on the show. They’re getting ideas. They’re realizing that they, too, could be Hannah Baker. They could change things.

I’m not saying it isn’t important. The ideas and emotions expressed through this series are necessary to work in understanding high school and the lives of students in today’s society. It is extremely important to watch what you say to people and to treat others with respect. Those things I understand. What I’m saying is that this particular show will not help with those issues; if anything, it will only further hurt those who are already suffering.

Let me be clear about this Netflix series and novel – if you currently or previously had problems with suicidal thoughts or self-harm, please be cautious moving forward with this show. If I were in the same mind frame as I was in high school when I watched this now, I would have ended up like Hannah Baker.