If you’ve been on the internet lately you may have (or should have) noticed that there is a circulation of talk about the new Netflix original series, "13 Reasons Why." Based on the book of the same title, the story follows a group of high-schoolers after the self-imposed death of a classmate, Hannah Baker, who leaves behind a series of tapes listing the reasons, and the people, who drove her to kill herself. I didn’t initially have any interest in watching the show; I had read the book, however, many years ago and decided that, most often, nothing good can ever come of movie/TV adaptations of books.

Interestingly enough, the only reason I decided to watch it was because I found out Selena Gomez was a producer for the show. I was and have been under the assumption (since many years ago, I’m talking, like eighth grade) that there was a movie that was supposed to go into production with Selena Gomez starring as Hannah Baker. This never happened, but through some strange glitch in the matrix, I still swear that this was at least speculated shortly after the book's release. Regardless, fascination drove me to the point of no return, and I decided it was time to binge.

I enjoyed the show- it was entertaining no doubt, but what struck me the most was the way that the show dealt with the main theme of the show, which is the aftermath of suicide. There's the lack of answers, the responses of students versus the responses of loved ones, and what exactly is supposed to be done after the act is committed. It presented everything, much as the book did, in the most genuine fashion possible, which is harsh. It became impossible for me to watch the downfall of this young girl, and to watch the reactions to her death from those around her. I don’t know if it was good direction or good writing or good acting, but I felt the impact of that show hit me like a ton of bricks.

After I finished the show over the course of the past week, I decided to do some sleuthing. I read articles about the show, the writers, the actors, and I read a whole boatload of responses. Some articles praised the show for its ability to elicit a feeling of suspense, but others did something that I didn’t expect: they said the show desensitized suicide. This concept completely boggles my mind, as there are ways in which society desensitizes us to issues that should be treated with greater sobriety, but to pin this show as something that does so seems a little bit ridiculous.

The show delves deep into the surrounding factors which play into Hannah’s suicide. This is important because it is generally what people tend to criticize most about the show. They say that it draws focus away from the main reason for suicide, which is mental illness. Mental illness is presented in various ways through Hannah’s tapes. The story often shows her alone, isolating herself from her loved ones and generally discontent with herself and her life. No, she never explicitly states, “I was depressed,” but it’s safe to say she implies it.

I think that a lot of people don’t feel comfortable talking about mental illness, which leads it to escalate. It’s hard for some to talk about their depression, about their anxiety, and it’s wrong to assume that just because it’s never mentioned doesn’t mean that someone doesn’t have it. Most people don’t talk about their feelings of depression and anxiety, and while I know it’s part of our millennial culture to be super outright about our feelings, for many that’s not the case. It shouldn’t be, but it is.

Also, to say that it’s unfair of Hannah to have blamed others for her suicide is not unfair, but instead should be read as: MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST BE KIND TO OTHERS. Maybe instead of saying, “This Hannah chick blames her suicide on other people which is B.S. because it’s an internal thing when you kill yourself.” It's an unfair assumption to make about people dealing with suicidal thoughts. If life doesn’t feel like it’s worth living, this very well may be an internal thing, but it’s often followed by or heavily pushed by a feeling of worthlessness perceived by someone to be projected be others. "13 Reasons Why" teaches lessons on empathy, kindness, and the effects that typical high school behavior can have on one’s self-esteem.

People feel guilty when someone they know and love commits suicide. This is a fact. There are only a handful of instances where suicide does not have a ripple effect on those surrounding it. And while it may not be the intent of the person doing so, anyone left unmentioned in a suicide note can’t help but wonder what they could have done differently to make that person’s life better. This is a negative effect of suicide. This is a reason people should be paying attention to it. This should be enough for someone to reconsider taking their own life, and for the show to present that is harsh, and abrasive, but absolutely true. It’s not specific intent of this particular person on this show to “seek revenge” through guilt, but instead presents, in a raw fashion, how suicide is such a detrimental action to one’s self, and everyone surrounding it.

The show forewarns the viewer it can be triggering, and for many it is, but for many, it also opens people up to the realities of suicide, which has been dealt with and at times romanticized by many books and shows. It allows the viewer to get a real sense of what happens to people in the aftermath of suicide. I think this is the show’s main focus, and while some argue that it shouldn’t be, I think there’s something to be said about excluding much of the information about Hannah’s own feelings- internalized or not.

The show is in no way cliched. This is a smaller, less significant point, but I think it needs to be made. At high schools, while the varsity jackets may be lacking and not all of the student council kids frequently wear modern adaptations of school uniforms, there are cliques a PLENTY. There is without a doubt a great deal of sympathies and leniencies granted to sports participants and the generally well-liked members of the student body. What schools allow to happen within the confines of their grounds should be considered completely unacceptable, and schools so often allow for kids with extra-curriculars to build super-egos that can damage those around them.

I took a lot from the character building within "13 Reasons Why," as it’s safe to say that I myself am a whole lot like Clay Jensen, guilty of allowing the world around me to turn while other people get hurt. I witnessed other people being attacked; I’ve seen a great deal of drama and not known what to do with it. It can be especially hard when you feel like you’re going through such an important time in your life to slow down and think about those around you.

There’s no easy way to say this: schools are never safe zones. Kids are mean, teachers are absolutely useless when it comes to searching for some amount of empathy, and if your guidance counselor actually helped guide you through tough times in your life they should be handed an award. I’ve seen teachers push kids further into depression through their actions; I’ve witnessed first-hand campaigns for suicide and bullying awareness become a complete and utter joke because the slogan "It Will Get Better!” can seem like a whole lot of bullshit for someone feeling the pain of self-loathing and loneliness. "13 Reasons Why" is right, there oftentimes isn’t a place of safety for those in need, and whether it’s easy to watch or not, it needs to be addressed.