Netflix recently released a new series 13 Reasons Why, based off of Jay Asher's 2007 novel.The series follows teenager Clay Jensen, an introverted high school student who is given an anonymous package which contains a series of cassette tapes all recorded by Hannah Baker, a friend from Clay's high school who recently committed suicide. Each of the thirteen tapes target a select individual, revealing the thirteen reasons why Hannah chose to end her life. The series has been receiving mixed reviews, many viewers angrily stating how they feel that the show glorifies suicide. One thing still needing to be addressed, however, are the important things to takeaway from this powerful series.
If you see something, say something.
In most cases, victim's of suicide often show several warning signs before taking their lives. In Hannah's case, she let out several cries for help. Hannah writes a poem, which ultimately gets published without her consent, talking about her loneliness and feelings of emptiness. Moreover, Hannah leaves her classmate Zach a note revealing how sad and lonely she was feeling, yet Zach chooses to crumble it up and throw it away. Lastly, Hannah acts out several times including her dramatic haircut and public displays of pain through screams and cries. If acknowledged by those around her, these warning signs and cries for help could have potentially lead her down a different path. The important thing to takeaway from this is that when you see something, say something. It could save someone's life.
Suicide is caused by mental illness.
According to the University of Washington Mental Health Report, suicide is one of the leading causes of death among people ages 15-55. Over 90 percent of people who die from suicide have a diagnosable mental disorder and frequently those who take their lives were often facing undiagnosed or untreated depression. In Hannah's case, though not explicitly stated, signs of mental illness were shown. Hannah was very withdrawn and showed extreme feelings of sadness and signs of depression. Some may say that her tapes were even cruel and that she wanted her classmates to feel the same pain and guilt that she did which is another sign of an undiagnosed mental illness. Though without a doubt Hannah's classmates caused her extreme pain, mental illness was fundamentally the cause of her suicide.
The things you say and do always matter.
Some minor insult or small prank that may seem funny to you can seriously affect someone else in a more traumatizing way. In Hannah's case Alex's list, her date with Marcus, and the sexual jokes all seemed so trivial to her classmates, however these "insignificant" matters truly contributed to Hannah's tragedy. Though one person could not be specifically held responsible for Hannah's suicide, they can be held responsible for the ostracization and sadness which ultimately led Hannah to end her life. With this, it is important to takeaway that the little things you say and do matter to someone, even if they may not matter to you.
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
Many scenes featured in this show were disturbing and really hard to watch. Without question or debate, Hannah endured bullying and shaming which left her emotionally scarred. Sadly enough, Hannah got to a point in her life where she felt suicide was the only solution. Hannah struggled to look past her hardships and it seemed impossible for things to get better. More common than not, those contemplating suicide experience and feel many of the same things Hannah did, however it's important to remember that suicide is a very permanent solution to a temporary problem.
There are an infinite amount of resources for those struggling.
A list of resources for those struggling with suicidal thoughts or depression can be found on the following link:
https://afsp.org/find-support/resources/
It is our job to know the signs and protect each other from experiencing the same tragedy that Hannah, her peers, and her family experienced.
