If you are like most of the population, you have watched or are currently watching “13 Reasons Why." The show is based off the book by Jay Asher and follows Hannah Baker’s life through a set of cassette tapes that she left behind. The cassette tapes document the 13 reasons why she killed herself, telling her story of the 13 people who led her to end her life. It follows Clay Jenson (reason 11) listening to the tapes and following the aftermath of Hannah’s suicide.
This Netflix show is popular right now, not because it was made from a book, but because of the rawness of the show. Most shows these days rarely speak or even mention mental illness or suicide. Sure, in health class as teens we are told the signs and that we can always go talk to a counselor, and more importantly, “IT GETS BETTER." We tell teens who are going through the most hormonal changes in their life that it'll all be OK in a few years and to essentially suck it up.
Mental health often gets overlooked, so for a show to go in depth of how one action of a person can affect another is powerful. “13 Reasons Why” shows the raw truth about how people are stuck in their own worlds. There were so many people who could have taken a moment, stepped back from their own life, and just talked to Hannah. All she needed was someone to listen, and that is alike for so many other teens.
When I was 16, I tried to end my life, I battled with depression for about 2 years at that point and I couldn’t take anymore. I was lucky enough to have a great home support system and I got the help I needed, but many youth across the world don’t have that. A lot of people in high school are depressed. Sadly, I can say that I’ve noticed more scars on wrists than bracelets.
The teen suicide rate is higher than it's ever been. We as a nation are quick to judge those with depression as ‘emo’ and those who have mental illness as ‘psychotic.' By creating such stereotypes, it makes it harder for people to ask for help. Having the mental illness is hard enough, and asking for help is even harder, so why does society make it so hard? No one asks to be depressed and physically not have the mental energy to get out of bed every day and shower or just eat. Depression is scary. As someone who suffered from depression for years, I can honestly say I would never wish that upon anyone. People should be able to talk to someone about it and not be afraid of judgment when getting help.
Society doesn’t take mental illness seriously. School shootings happen more often that we have become desensitized to the reality of its horror. Instead, we prepare our students with what to do in such a situation. Does no one see how horrible that is? Instead of paying more attention to those seeking or needing psychiatric help, to prevent such an occurrence, we are preparing 5 and 6-year-olds how to be safe in case someone tries to shoot them. What about the veterans that fought in a war and can't sleep because of their nightmares? Or the veterans who are depressed from all they saw?
Why don’t we teach from a young age that it's OK to ask for help and talk about signs and what to do? Why isn't there more education on mental illnesses and depression? We fund athletics to no end, but students leave high school not knowing how to handle their emotions. They get a sports scholarship but flunk out semester one because they don’t know how to handle the stress and reality of life.
“13 Reasons Why” is a great show, and I recommend it to everyone, but I also want everyone to pay more attention. Look out for signs and listen to the people in your life. Asking for help isn't easy, so it might not always be as direct as “I need mental help." Hopefully, the mental health stigma will end soon.
