School board warns about ‘13 Reasons Why’
Netflix series focuses on teen suicide
THE HAMILTON Wentworth District School Board is warning parents about a controversial Netflix TV show that they say could harm students facing mental health issues or trigger suicidal feelings.
The board released a letter last Friday about the show “13 Reasons Why,” a series that focuses on a high school student who dies by suicide.
“It has graphic content related to suicide, glamorization of suicidal behaviour and negative portrayals of helping professionals, which may prevent youth from seeking help,” reads the letter.
The wildly popular show, released on Netflix on March 31, tells the story of Hannah Baker, who leaves behind 13 cassette tapes after her death. Each tape is addressed to a person who Hannah says contributed to her decision to take her own life.
The show, based on a 2007 young adult novel by the same name by bestselling author Jay Asher, has become a breakaway hit. Variety magazine recently reported that it’s the most Tweeted-about show in 2017, amassing more than 11 million tweets since its
launch. But it’s also raised red flags among mental health professionals across the globe, including an Australian agency that warned about the show’s “dangerous content.”
The school board has told teachers not to use the series as a “teaching aid” — meaning they shouldn’t bring it up directly with their students or base any lessons around the show. If students ask about the program, the board has provided a list of talking points to guide the conversation, including encouraging students to think critically about it and offering coping strategies for students who may be feeling overwhelmed.
David Hoy, manager of social work services at the Hamilton-- Wentworth District School Board, said the show isn’t an appropriate springboard for discussions about the topics depicted in the show — including suicide, bullying, and sexual assault.
“Could this conversation be helpful for some students? Yes. It also would be hurtful for some students,” he said. “We don’t pick teaching strategies that are helpful to many, harmful to some. We pick strategies that are hopefully helpful to all.”
The board put out the warning to parents after School Mental Health Assist, an organization that works with the Ontario Ministry of Education, issued a message about the show to school boards across the province. The Hamilton Wentworth District School board was one of the first boards in Ontario to relay that message to teachers and parents.
The Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board issued a notice written by Jami-Leigh Sawyer, the board’s mental health lead, to educators April 26, including information to help them deal with students’ questions about the show and with the topic of suicide specifically.
“Students are exposed to many things through popular media, however, given the sensitive nature of this subject matter it is imperative that HWCDSB staff be aware of and equipped with tools to support students who may watch this series and seek support at school.”
Some of the students who have watched the show say it contains valuable lessons, despite the controversial subject matter. Shayna King, a 14-year-old student at Westdale Secondary School, says while the show was “upsetting and dark,” it tackles realistic subject matter that could help parents and educators understand teens.
“I see a lot of stuff like this. It’s a lot like a typical high school,” King said. “If adults watched it, they might realize that these kinds of things actually happen in school.”
Mae Robb, a 15-year-old who also attends Westdale, said the show demonstrates how bullying and name-calling can have a huge impact.
“We don’t pick teaching strategies that are helpful to many, harmful to some. We pick strategies that are hopefully helpful to all.” DAVID HOY HWDSB SOCIAL WORK SERVICES