Netflix show on suicide draws doctor disapproval
Some say series sends wrong message to teens
Medical experts said Netflix and creators of the second season of 13 Reasons Why aren’t doing enough to curb the increase in teen suicides and may encourage copycat cases.
The teen suicide rate rose by more than 70% from 2006 to 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate among black teens was 77%.
Some critics accused the first season of 13 Reasons Why, a teen mystery drama about a girl who left cassette tapes detailing 13 reasons she took her own life, of glamorizing suicide. The criticism continues despite the series’ collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The proportion of doctor visits involving suicidal thoughts — known as “ideation” — jumped by more than 40% last April and May compared with the weeks before the release of the series’ first season on March 31, 2017, according to a study of millions of doctor visits by 14- to 20-year-olds.
Netflix released Season 2 of the show Friday but canceled a premiere event after a gunman killed 10 people at a Texas high school.
A Northwestern University study commissioned by Netflix found more than 70% of viewers said the show should have provided more educational resources.
Netflix responded by including extensive resources and an “after show” on prevention that airs after the final episode in each season.
Executive producer Brian Yorkey said Thursday that Netflix “stands by” the first season.
Yorkey said Netflix presented the “most truthful portrayal” of suicide that it could do.
“I believe we did the right thing,” he said.
“My concern with this whole show is the kind of glorification of suicide,” said emergency doctor Paul Kivela, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. “The problem here is that the producers of the show may not understand the unintended consequences of their show.
“They may be trying to educate but may be having the opposite effect,” he said.
To underscore that the actors are only playing troubled teens, Netflix is releasing a set of videos starring cast members out of character addressing many of the topics from the show. This “discussion series” will be available in the Netflix “Trailers and More” section and on 13ReasonsWhy.Info.
The series includes information on how to spot depression, understanding sexual consent, drug and alcohol abuse, bullying and self-harm.
The new Beyond the Reasons after show featuring actors and experts in suicide prevention, sexual assault and other problems will play automatically after the last episode of the second season.
Rhode Island child psychiatrist Karyn Horowitz, a Brown University associate professor, said the after show should run after every episode and questioned whether teens would view the online resources.
Horowitz said the attention shouldn’t be on the act, but rather the prevention of suicide.
Contributing: Reginal Payne II, a fellow with the Urban Health Media Project, which O’Donnell co-founded.