The book that took the world by storm has yet again come to light with the new show on Netflix, season two coming out soon. There is a lot of controversy over the episodic drama, including claims that it glorifies suicide and suicidal ideation.
This will contain some spoilers, so be warned!
1. It does glorify teen suicide
The idea that you can live on after your death and memorialize yourself through tapes and letters makes the ideation of suicide that much more appealing to someone with depression. This can be extremely damaging and dangerous to a young person watching the show.
2. It’s graphics - far too graphic for younger viewers.
During the bathtub scene (you know which one I’m talking about), I as an adult was very disturbed. Imagine you’re fourteen and watching a girl commit suicide. Yeah.
3. While the show does bring light to suicide awareness, it does very little to bring light to mental illness.
Never is Hannah described as depressed or anxious, nor does she exhibit signs of any mental health problems. This is unrealistic and dangerous to those of us struggling every day with mental illness. It normalizes suicide and makes it seem like everyone feels this way when that just isn’t true. Depression makes people suicidal, not life.
4. “Others” were responsible for Hannah’s suicide.
This is incredibly harmful to young people because it shows that even the good people, like Clay, caused Hannah to kill herself. This can lead a teenager to think that anything they do could set someone off, which isn’t true.
5. There were no experts working on the show.
Not one of the producers or consultants on the show were actually LCPCs, psychiatrists, or mental health specialists. This just goes to show that the producers of the program were just concerned about getting views rather than being factual.6. It implies that bullying and social media lead to suicide.
As mentioned, nothing causes suicide but depression and mental health. Suicide doesn’t just occur because someone gets teased at school or gets bullied on the bus. These things certainly don’t help, but mental illness is the only thing that causes suicide. Period.
7. “13 Reasons Why” suggests that suicide is a big middle finger to the “haters.”
Hannah uses it as revenge, which for one is morally wrong, and for two is not realistic.8. Instead of using the show as a tool to highlight what to do if a friend needs help, it shows that you can keep their memory alive even after they’re gone.
The show uses flashbacks to keep Hannah alive in the show, but this is not the case in real life. You can’t just will someone back to life. Once you’re gone, you’re gone. Teens watching will view the flashbacks as, again, a fantastical idealization of suicide.9. Hannah puts a lot of effort and thought into her thirteen tapes.
This does not accurately represent suicidal ideation because a depressed person would not have the energy, let alone the care to put that much effort into their suicide “note.”10. Hannah uses her suicide note as a means of gaining control over those who have hurt her.
Beyond revenge, she gets them to do what she says from beyond the grave. This is super scary to me, an adult, so imagine how scary that could be for a teenager.
11. Mentioning suicide puts the idea in your head.
Whether it’s a passing thought or a reminder, this show staples it to your brain like a bulletin board.
12. Selena Gomez, one of the producers, is quoted...
“We wanted to do it in a way where it was honest…” Well, Selena, there’s a difference between being honest, and being dangerous. It’s a fine line but you crossed it.
13. And finally, it legitimizes the act of suicide: making it seem like a viable option for people.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW ARE STRUGGLING WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND/OR TENDENCIES, REACH OUT IMMEDIATELY. NO ONE SHOULD GO THROUGH THIS ALONE. SUICIDE IS SERIOUS.
Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255, available 24/7
