Everyone is so quick to say they have anxiety and depression, yet no one talks about suicide. Why? Because it's hard. So why did people think that a TV show about suicide would be easy to watch? I don't believe for a second that 13 Reasons Why was made for pure entertainment, and I don't think it was made for people who truly struggle with their mental health to relate to. No, I believe the popular show was made to bring awareness to the already popular epidemic that has swept our world for decades.
All parents want to believe that their kids are happy. However, in many cases this causes parents to accidentally ignore the telltale signs of a significantly depressed child. 13 Reasons Why has given parents a reason to discuss suicide with their kids before a true suicide or suicide attempt takes place and effects their kids' lives. Parents, please make time to visit with your kid, DAILY. I know they are bratty, hormonal and mean teenagers but please, they need to know that you are there and that you care. Be involved in their life, even when they don't want you to be, because trust me, they do. Lastly, you cannot say "I love you" enough.
Teachers and coaches witness bullying every single day without even realizing it. Don't always assume it's just a joke, or that "it's all in good fun." Most likely, what you observe is just a fraction of what happens when the students are alone, outside of school, or even online. It takes a special person to be a teacher, and I say that because they choose to have an impact on kids, and that impact can be positive... or negative. Many kids have a hard time at school, but an even harder time at home. So please, in a professional way, let your students know that you are there for them, and that you care for them. Most importantly, be in communication with the parents. Tell them exactly what was said, and what was done. They can't be there if they don't know.
Lastly, students have the most effective power to stand up to bullying. Contrary to popular belief, just because someone is a talented athlete does not mean that they are a good person! Crazy, right? Being the "cool kid" just gives them more power to be mean, because many think they are untouchable. However, it also gives them the responsibility of being an influence. Will they take the easy way out by being the bad one, or strong enough to be the good one? There are a million healthy ways to stand up to bullying, no matter who you are. Tell an adult, because the victim may be too afraid. The obvious and the hardest, tell the bully to stop. If you can't do either of those things, at least let the sufferer know that what happened was wrong, and that they aren't alone. It takes one minute to send a message to tell someone that you are on their side, and that you care.
People will willingly watch and enjoy someone chop off their own foot in the horror film, but have an issue watching the horror that is Real Life. I'm sorry if watching this show made you sick to your stomach, but it should. You should be disgusted as you see a young girl's reputation ruined because of a boy trying to be cool, because those victims feel disgusted by themselves for being vulnerable and wanting love. You should be nauseated after watching a poor girl be raped and feel completely helpless, because there are more girls and boys that feel that way every day than your stomach can even bear to handle. It should make you devastatingly ill that every day a parent, sibling or friend discovers that someone they care so much about, decided they didn't want to live anymore. It should make you absolutely sick to see what real kids deal with every single day at every single school.
If you struggle with depression and 13 Reasons Why is a trigger for you, DON'T WATCH. But because I know many of you will anyways what I hope you take from the show is this: admit you need help and seek it until you get it, recognize how much everyone Hannah even briefly knew was impacted by her suicide and not just those on the tapes, and lastly, when you reach your breaking point, keep fighting because you are loved, you matter, and nobody is better off without you. Remember the Clay Jensen's.
The world needed 13 Reasons Why because suicide needed to be talked about. Parents need to be aware. Teachers need to be aware. Students who are aware, need to take a stand for what is right. And bullies need to understand the life changing (and sometimes life ending) effect they have on their victims. The world needs to stop pretending that depression and suicide don't exist, because that is the very reason that it does.
