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Controversial Show '13 Reasons Why' Raises

Awareness About Teen Suicide
by Delphine Rivet
1When he adapted the eponymous novel by Jay Asher, screenwriter Brian Yorkey knew he was
2tackling an iconic book on adolescence that had an impact on a whole generation of young
3readers.

4While he stayed relatively faithful to the original work, he and the producers, including Selena
5Gomez, decided to portray the unthinkable the suicide of the main character Hannah.

6Of course, the suicide is fictional and it is as much a narrative tool (it launches the rest of the
7story) as it is a sincere discussion about the character's suffering.

8Many viewers and critics have been blown away by the series. As Digital Spy reports, over 3.5
9million tweets were posted about the series in the first week after it aired. And the series set a
10record number of Google searches, beating out big films like Hunger Games and Harry Potter.

11And on Tumblr, the temple of fandom, there's no escaping 13 Reasons Why and its many gifs and
12inspiring (or devastating) quotes. In any case, it's clear the series no one expected to be an event
13has found an audience and in only one season, it's created a solid fan base that's very active on
14social media.

15If there's one thing we can all agree on about the show's thirteen episodes, it's that they certainly
16inspire conversation.

17The show creators are very clear on that point. Not only did they want to tell a story, they also
18wanted to raise awareness about the problems Hannah experiences: harassment, slut-shaming
19and finally, suicide.

20Discussion about the plot Who is on the cassettes? Who hurt Hannah? quickly slips into more
21taboo topics. The series is important and necessary because it breaks the silence around teen
22suicide and goes as far as portraying the act itself, albeit somewhat cautiously.

23While the show has gotten many people talking and means a lot to some people, as they've made
24clear on social media, it has also alarmed some parents and organizations who are afraid it
25may make suicide appear glamorous.

26In an interview with the Washington Post, Dan Reidenberg, Executive Director of the Suicide
27Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) prevention program, explained that there is a "great
28amount of concern in the suicide prevention community around this series."
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29In his opinion, the fact that Hannah goes through with her suicide and is able to detail the events
30leading up to it after her death through her cassette recordings may glorify the act. He explains:

31"Young people are not that great at separating fiction from reality. That gets even harder to
32do when youre struggling with thoughts.

33However, while the show doesn't claim to represent every facet of the issue, nor to be a suicide
34prevention campaign, 13 Reasons Why did take care to tell Hannah's story.

35And while the end may be controversial, the suicide is presented in an almost unbearable
36manner, which is far from glamorous. At that moment, Hannah takes control of her body, one
37that's been commented upon, criticized, sexualized and violated.

38She decides that no one will ever take possession of her body again. And the episodes leading up
39to that moment demonstrate the accumulation and crescendo of bullying, brutality and trauma
40she experiences.

41Because it chooses to address difficult subjects, 13 Reasons Why upsets those who want to
42reduce it to nothing more than a clumsy (or dangerous) representation of suicide.

43But just like the MTV series Sweet/Vicious before it, the show can be credited with raising
44awareness about bullying and inspiring discussion. It's also worth mentioning that the
45problematic episodes begin with trigger warnings indicating that there will be scenes of rape and
46suicide that may be difficult for some viewers.

47The series also comes with tools for helping people who may be considering suicide, like this
48website. And at the very end of the season, Netflix added a special episode that goes over the
49themes discussed in the series along with the actors, producers and a psychologist specialized in
50teen mental health.

51It's a great way to debrief after the season and educate each other about the importance of
52speaking out in such situations
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