If the rock you've been living under doesn't have wifi, you might not have heard of or watched the new Netflix original series "13 Reasons Why." The show highlights the life (and death) of Hannah Baker, a suicide victim, as she explains why she committed suicide in various tapes. The series is powerful, extremely graphic, and in many ways kind of problematic. After reading the book years ago and now watching the series, I take issue with how Hannah and her suicide are portrayed. Because of this, I have compiled a list of 13 things I think we all need to keep in mind after watching the show.

1. Suicide is caused by mental illness.

Well, more than 90 percent of them are. People who commit suicide are deeply and severely suffering to the point where they feel that no longer existing is the best solution. Mentally healthy people do not seriously feel this way, at least not to the point where they would seriously consider taking their own life. Again, this is not a healthy mindset, so people with it are suffering from mental illness and they need help. I was extremely disappointed in "13 Reasons Why" and their lack of discussing mental illness because it is utterly impossible to separate suicide from it. I understand that the book was written a few years back and mental illness in relation to suicide was not talked about as much, but we've learned a lot since then. The show would have incorporated mental illness into Hannah's story. Victims of suicide almost always suffer from depression, anxiety, a schizoform disorder, bipolar disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, or another mental illness.

2. Most people do not kill themselves solely because of bullying.

Again, suicide is caused by mental illness. Bullying, loss and pain can flip the switch on a depressed person's mind and make them want to end their life, but no amount of bullying causes suicide. Actions of bullies may be what pushes someone over the edge, as being bullied can make you feel isolated, unloved, alone and can remind you of all the flaws about yourself that you absolutely hate. When people treat you like you're a freak, that no one loves you, or in Hannah's case, that you're nothing but an object, your inner mental disorders mix with these feelings. You might feel that you are not worthy of life, or that the only way to escape the pain is death. Mentally healthy people can be deeply affected by the pain and harassment of bullying, but they will rarely commit suicide because of it. "13 Reasons Why" has one basic message: be kind to others because you never know what else they're going through. This is an extremely powerful medium for this important message, but remember that mental illness and suicide really what go hand-in-hand. There is no linear path to suicide, so no one life event can cause it all together. It is vastly more complicated than that, and it is rooted in mental illness.

3. Hannah Baker is mentally ill.

As I've previously stated, people who commit suicide are mentally ill. Therefore, Hannah Baker is mentally ill. She is clearly severely depressed, as shown by her reaction to the treatment she receives from her peers. To the audience, some of her "reasons" seem overdramatic. Depression can make things that seem minor to some feel absolutely life-changing to others. Although some of us may feel that her Valentine's date with Marcus, Zach stealing her notes, or Alex's list were insignificant, someone with a severe mental illness such as Hannah might be extremely affected.

Hannah shows other symptoms of undiagnosed mental illness. The tapes she records to show the others her "reasons" are almost sadistic. She wants the people who caused her pain to feel pain. She wants to leave a mark on their lives and make them live with their guilt forever. This, along with the gruesome way she chooses to die, are obvious signs of further mental illness. The vast majority of women who commit suicide do something "cleaner," something like hanging, overdose, or drowning. "13 Reasons Why" choosing to end her life this way is different, and maybe shows just how unhealthy Hannah's mindset is. It also might just be for "shock value," but I digress.

4. "Cries for help" shouldn't be ignored.

Hannah has a couple of “cries for help.” Her poem, published against her will, talks deeply about suicide and death. It shows how alone she feels and how seriously she is contemplating ending her life. People are too busy ridiculing the poem and its writer to recognize it for what it was: a desperate attempt for help and reassurance. She also writes a note to her teacher insinuating the only way she doesn’t feel pain is to feel nothing at all. This is a really serious, very intense feeling. Although her teacher addresses it momentarily, she ultimately drops it. Hannah's classmates demean its writer, not exactly know it's her, saying that she is merely looking for attention. Sometimes these "cries for help" are just for attention, but more often than not, the people doing them need the attention. It could truly be a matter of life or death, so it’s important we never ignore these cries or belittle them.

5. There are resources available for people who are depressed and/or suicidal.

Here are a couple of free, 24/7 resources available to everyone in the United States:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Phone Number: 1-800-273-8255

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Online Chat

There are, of course, counselors, therapists and other paid professionals that can help anyone who is feeling depressed, anxious or suicidal. They can provide counseling, tips and some can even prescribe medication to help treat these disorders. If you're interested in helping others, you can also get involved with the American Foundation for the Prevention of Suicide. I am an advocate for the foundation, and they are a great resource for anyone who is struggling with suicidal thoughts, has lost someone to suicide, has attempted, or is passionate and wants to help.

6. There are resources available for victims and survivors of sexual assault.

Sexual assault and harassment are recurring themes in "13 Reasons Why." Both Jessica and Hannah are tragically victims of assault, and unfortunately, they are not alone. Sexual assault is a huge issue throughout the world, and there are resources to help survivors and witnesses. Here are a few confidential and free resources:

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN): rainn.org

National Sexual Violence Resource Center: www.nsvrc.org

National Center for Victims of Crime: nsvrc.org

Information on male sexual abuse: malesurvivor.org

LGBTQ Community resources: http://www.nclrights.org/sexual-assault-in-the-lgbt-community/

There are resources that vary by area as well. If you are interested in reporting the crime or seeing what exactly what you can do about it, your local police department is also a resource.

7. Sexual harassment and "slut shaming" really can affect people more than we think.

As shown by Hannah’s story, not everyone finds these things funny or even tolerable. These words and actions can be small, such as grabbing someone in a convenience store, sexualizing someone’s body through a public list, stretching the truth about sexual interactions, spreading pictures or even just spreading the lies and believing the reputations. They can have serious effects. When you open the door for that kind of behavior, others follow suit. In Hannah’s case, this escalated as far as her assault. When you objectify someone, others will treat them the same way, and they will view themselves as subhuman, as well. When you view someone as unlovable, they may view themselves that way, too. Although calling someone a “slut” and harassing them may seem pretty harmless, this show does a great job of showing that’s not true.

8. Some tragedies are preventable, so we should talk about them before they happen.

The show talks a lot about how no one talks about these issues until they’ve already happened. After Jeff’s death, the school is covered in signs about drunk driving. After Hannah’s death, the school is littered with flyers about suicide and suicide prevention. Although it’s important to talk about these tragedies after they occur, it’s important to try to prevent them. We need to talk about suicide, mental illness, and depression before suicide takes another life. People, particularly teenagers, need to be aware of the severity of the thought, the resources available to them, and how to see the warning signs in others. If people don't feel alone or hopeless, they are significantly less likely to attempt. It's important to remember that suicide is preventable.

9. Suicide is not selfish, and we shouldn't blame the victims.

This is something I hear all the time and I'll admit, it really grinds my gears: "suicide is selfish." Suicide victims are experiencing a level of hurt that only a select few may grasp. To commit suicide, you have to feel so completely hopeless that there is no other option. For death to seem like the best option, you must be severely mentally ill. From the outside, it's easy to judge or blame them. We ask, "How could they do that to their family?" instead of "How much pain could they have been in to make them feel this way? What can I do to prevent this happening to anyone else?" Saying that suicide is selfish is victim-blaming in its purest form. If you don't know the pain, you don't know the pain. You have no right to speak on it. A lot of the time, victims (and yes, they are victims) feel like their loved ones will be better off without them. A lot of victims feel like burdens to their loved ones. A lot of victims feel like death is a sweet release—the only escape. These are intense, tragic feelings, and we should never ever blame anyone for feeling them or acting on it.

10. There are warning signs.

Hannah showed a lot of warning signs. She dramatically changed her hair, she was always alone, she felt as if she had no friends, and she had public outbursts of pain. Alex showed some, too. He acted irrationally, also had outbursts of pain, was irritable, and spent most of his time alone. He seemed sad a lot of the time and he made snide remarks about death. He was clearly at risk. It’s vital that we look out for these signs. When we see these signs, it’s important we act upon them.

11. You might miss warning signs. It's not your fault.

Yes, there are signs, but sometimes we may miss them. This show throws around a lot of guilt and blame, but those who didn't see it coming are not at fault. Clay, for example, had absolutely no idea this was going to happen. He didn't see the signs, and maybe that's because he didn't even know them. We live our own lives and we have our own problems. Sometimes we may not see that others are hurting or that they need help. Sometimes we don't know the extent of how someone feels or how much help they really need. We can't blame ourselves for that. Clay didn't know, the Bakers didn't know, and Tony didn't know, and that's not their fault. The show sort of adds a romance to the death, a sort of Romeo and Juliet-esque star-crossed lovers thing that I personally can't stand. There's a scene where Clay says that Hannah's death is because he was "too afraid to love her." This aggravates me because you can't romance mental illness away. Sure, maybe if Hannah knew how Clay felt things would have ended differently, but ultimately Hannah's mental illness cannot be cured by romance, and Clay cannot be blamed for her death. If you know someone who has committed or attempted and you were completely caught off guard, it is important you know that this isn't your fault. You are not to blame.

12. Clear communication can help.

There were a lot of opportunities for communication, and a lot of people could’ve changed the outcome with it. It could’ve been Sherry or Courtney communicating the truth, Jessica communicating how much she cared, or Hannah communicating how she felt. Maybe if she had told her parents, her friends, or a professional what was happening, she could’ve gotten professional help. Maybe if those in her life communicated to her how much she meant to them she wouldn’t have felt so alone. Keep in mind that doesn't necessarily mean she wouldn't have attempted because she would still have her mentally illness. But maybe if she knew she was loved, she could've gotten the help she was in dire need of. The entire show follows people who wish they could’ve done something differently. Almost all of them wish they would’ve said something. This emphasizes the importance of communication. Hannah’s story could’ve ended very differently with some more communication from all parties, but again, who really knows? We should never hesitate to communicate when we’re worried or to communicate how much we care or how we feel, but we should not dwell on the times where we didn't speak out either.

13. "13 Reasons Why" isn't the most accurate depiction of every single case of suicide.

Clearly, the show is made for entertainment purposes as well as educational ones. It paints a picture of suicide and one girl's story, but that's not everyone's story. Even others on the show, like Alex, have different stories. Not every victim is actively bullied. Not every victim was abused. Not every victim is a white, (maybe?) heterosexual, cis-gender female. It can happen to anyone, of any age, of any ethnicity, of any background, anywhere in the world. Mental illness can affect anyone. Keep in mind after finishing this show that it is a work of fiction with the purpose of spreading awareness and a message, which I believe in many ways was successful, but that cases in real life may look different.

Please keep in mind that I am not trying to attack the show. I find it deeply problematic and unnecessarily grotesque, but I'm not saying that this a bad show and that you shouldn't watch it. There's a fine line between "screw censorship of art, let's be real here" and "shock value for TV," and I do think "13 Reasons Why" dances along this line. I also don't like how the series romanticizes suicide, but again, no series can ever fully cover this tragedy. Like everything in the world, the show is flawed. I commend "13 Reasons Why" for trying, but I think there are many issues that aren't addressed and messages that are not sent well enough that I feel compelled to clear up. I do highly recommend the show, but I implore you to dig deeper. Suicide is a serious, deadly issue. After watching this show, these are the 13 things I think we need to remember.