Show about teen suicide has school concerned
In Bellingham, school officials are warning parents about the Netflix series ‘13 Reasons Why’
BELLINGHAM – The Bellingham School District is warning parents about a popular new show on Netflix that centers on the suicide of a teenager.
“13 Reasons Why” is about a high schooler who takes her own life and leaves behind clues explaining why.
The television series is based on the 2007 novel Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher and adapted by Brian Yorkey for Netflix. The show depicts a student who kills herself after a series of failures, brought on by friends and others within their school. The series has received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. Some have praised its subject matter and casting.
But in a letter to parents this week, Bellingham Schools Superintendent Peter D. Marano calls the series concerning.
“It has come to our attention that the trending Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why, is being viewed by many of our students,” Marano said. “The series vividly shows a suicide death and wrenchingly addresses many challenging topics, such as bullying, rape, and drunk driving. We strongly encourage families to be aware of the impact this provocative series may have on our students.”
Marano says the school district does not recommend that students watch the show because there is concern that some students could interpret the message that suicide is a viable option for them.
“What the series lacks are options and or alternatives to suicide and treatment options for children that are experiencing depression or mental health issues,” Marano says in his letter. “While we do not recommend students watch the series, if your child or children have already viewed this series, they may require additional support.”
Marano is urging parents to first find out if their children have seen the program, and second, to discuss the content and their child's feelings around the topic in a healthy and safe way.
“At Bellingham Public Schools, we are committed to supporting students’ social emotional needs and bringing awareness to families and our community about issues that affect our students,” Marano said.
The school is also making its school counselors and school psychologists available to parents and to help families engage in conversations with their student and to provide resources to prevent unhealthy behaviors.
The Bellingham School District’s concerns mirror those of the National Association of School Psychologists, which has recommended that vulnerable youth, especially those who have any degree of suicidal ideation, refrain from watching the series.
“Its powerful storytelling may lead impressionable viewers to romanticize the choices made by the charac- ters and/or develop revenge fantasies,” the association said in a recent statement. “They may easily identify with the experiences portrayed and recognize both the intentional and unintentional effects of the central character.”
“While many youth are resilient and capable of differentiating between a TV drama and real life, engaging in thoughtful conversations with them about the show is vital,” the association said.
“Doing so presents an opportunity to help them process the issues addressed, consider the consequences of certain choices and reinforce the message that suicide is not a solution to problems and that help is available.”