Joining hundreds of educators across the country, officials with the Sierra Vista Unified School District are warning parents about the Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why. Educators are concerned about the glamorization of teen suicide.
Based on the 2007 best-selling novel, 13 Reasons Why, is a fictional story about a young high school student who commits suicide after being bullied. The student has sent tape recordings to her fellow students, who she believes caused her pain. In the recording she explains why she decided to kill herself.
The Sierra Vista Unified School District warning reads in part:
“Parents and guardians need to know that 13 Reasons Why is an intense Netflix drama that is definitely not a light watch for younger children. This series explores suicide, bullying, depression, rape, alcoholism, and anxiety in teens. The story behind the series involves a student who has received seven double-sided cassette tapes from a classmate who has recently committed suicide. Each tape details a reason why she killed herself,” reads the Sierra Vista Unified School District warning.”
In watching the series, young people and teens could interpret the message that suicide is a viable and/or romanticized option. The show’s content is extremely graphic, with disturbing scenes in many episodes, which may be difficult for impressionable minds to watch and process in a healthy way.
The series includes the following shortcomings:
• There is no mention of behavioral health and treatment options.
• The notion of suicide is glamorized.
• There are no examples of help-seeking by the teens portrayed in the program.
• There are several scenes depicting serious trauma, in which the teens do not seek help or resources, including rape, bullying, alcoholism and suicide.
• The graphic portrayal of the actual suicide was unnecessary and potentially harmful to young people facing challenges.