When browsing for something to watch on Netflix, I usually steer towards comedies because I enjoy laughing. Life is too serious; it's best to laugh.
When I first heard about "Thirteen Reasons Why," I did not know what it was about. Some coworkers were talking about the show at work. I asked if it was funny, and they responded that it was not. I decided to not join the conversation because I was not going to watch something that wasn't a comedy.
Twitter later revealed to me the plot of "Thirteen Reasons Why" (always Twitter with the spoilers). When I found out that it was a suicide mystery, I knew for sure that I would never watch this show.
This show could be a trigger for me and many others with mental illness.
Sometimes shows about mental illness can trigger emotions in me. Even if the show isn't based on the mental illness, I know that I have issues watching certain movie scenes and television shows do to graphic content since graphic content can easily trigger me.
Movies and shows that are action-packed or filled with drama can often give me anxiety. I don't know what will happen next in them. This is why I often steer clear of shows and movies that are not funny or do not sound like they will have a happy ending. "Thirteen Reasons Why" definitely does not sound happy.
The premise of the show is that a high school student, Hanna Baker, commits suicide and sends tapes to those who "made her do it." These tapes are Hannah's way of seeking revenge on people in her afterlife and making school secrets come to light.
The way Hannah acts is not at all the way someone with true depression would act. People with depression do not seek revenge on those who have hurt them. I have never wanted to get revenge on the people who have wronged me.
When I was in the seventh grade, I was told by two of my classmates that they would use me as a shield if there was an active shooter in our class because I was so fat I would protect the whole class and nobody would care if I died. This comment still stings considering it was the beginning of a long journey with an eating disorder; however, I do not not want to get revenge on these two former classmates. In fact, I hope they have learned from what they did, grew into good people, and will never say something like that to anyone ever again.
I am afraid that it does not accurately represent mental illness. I am afraid that this series stigmatizes mental illness through the girl accusing others of her death.
I don't want victims of suicide to be thought of in a negative light. I don't want people to think those who died by suicide are vengeful and want to kill themselves to make others feel guilty.
People commit suicide when they cannot take their pain anymore. People take their lives when they have gone through so much and cannot take the memories. People do NOT take their lives to make others feel guilty for the rude and hurtful things that were done or said to them.
While I do not agree with the writing of this show, I do think that there needs to be more movies and shows that talk about mental illness.
Most of the time, movies address problems with characters that in real life would be defined as mental illness; however, these movies never handle their illnesses correctly. We need more characters in movies, books, and television series who attend therapy and take medications, who have anxiety or depression, and who experience situations the way people do in real life. Having more of this in the media will help to decrease the stigma that comes with mental illness.
If you have watched the show and truly have a problem with the way they portray mental illness and suicide, then STOP WATCHING IT! If you find this show to be a trigger for you, then STOP WATCHING IT! The less people who watch the show, the less likely it is that Netflix will renew it for another season.
Sometimes shows about mental illness may be hard to watch, and maybe "Thirteen Reasons Why" isn't the best example of a show about people with mental illness; however, I will never truly know. I am doing my part to maintain my mental health by not watching this show and I think if you are triggered at all by the show, you should stay away from it too.
If you are feeling suicidal or need help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ANYTIME: 1-800-273-8255.
