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'13 Reasons Why' (or 6 Reasons Why Not)

WRITER'S NOTE: this article may be triggering if you experience or have previously experienced suicidal thoughts and depression. If you need to talk to someone, please call Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 or chat to someone online Headspace Australia. UK readers can call Samaritans on 116 123 or visit NHS for more support.


Based on the young adult novel of the same name by Jay Asher, '13 Reasons Why' follows teen Clay Jensen in his quest to uncover the story behind his classmate and crush, Hannah, and her decision to end her life.



There are many reasons why '13 Reasons Why' is something that should be approached with caution. For a television show with such an important overtone, its newly subbed ‘must-see TV’ label has arguably been indelicately handled. As a result, here are '6 Reasons Why' many should avoid this popular television show at all costs.



1.

Although not a bad show, it hits a little too close to home for many, and talks about issues such as rape and suicide in a way that could have a harmful effect on survivors in particular.


There were reports that the showrunners sought advice from professionals in relation to the show’s writing and production. It has been suggested that their advice was completely ignored, especially in terms of showing suicide and rape onscreen. If you're going to write about a show that brings awareness to the signs of suicide, rape, and depression, it can still be effectively communicated without the visual depiction, and even have a more of a profound effect. Studies show that exposure to suicide and the like in the media has a tendency to increase suicidal behaviour. Is it because television glamorises the fatal act? Showing such scenes in graphic detail is not only deeply disturbing, but wholly unnecessary and triggering of past survivors.



2.

In ’13 Reasons Why’, suicide is simplified, and a fictitious portrayal of mental health is given. When a person considers taking their own life, there is rarely a neat thirteen reasons why a person does so. Often, it’s only one - they see no other choice but to end things indefinitely.


Certain events can have a traumatic impact upon the individual, whether it be due to vicious bullying, abuse in a variety of forms, or even a death in the family. Although certain people may have been the ‘reasons why’ a person took their own life, it being a direct reason as to why said person took their own life isn't wholly accurate.


The mind of a deeply depressed individual isn't logical or rational, but overwhelmed by this sense of endless lack of hope. There is no linear path (like the show dictates) as to why someone takes their own life. 'Bullying does not directly cause suicide’, writes Alyse Ruriani for The Mighty, but again, it's never that simple. It's a complex issue that's still trying to be understood.


What '13 Reasons Why' doesn't do is tell the full story. Yes, it may shed much needed light on mental health issues, but if you want to watch something that deals with such issues in an accurate and brilliant way, 'Legion', 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest', ‘Black Swan', 'The Machinist', 'A Beautiful Mind', 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape?', 'Shutter Island', 'Little Miss Sunshine', 'Fight Club', and 'Girl, Interrupted' are some of the films and television shows to go to.



3.

Hannah's 'reasons' are one of the major downfalls of the show, promoting the idea that if you manage to list enough reasons, suicide is an acceptable solution. It almost glamorises suicide, and can be considered a manual to someone's end. It can also be seen that, at least for Hannah Baker, suicide is a powerful and vengeful act of redemption to get back at the people who bullied her. And it's because of this that the people in her life suddenly care. If this isn't the glorification of suicide and mental health as a whole, then I’d like to see what is.



4.

While the show may be enlightening when it comes to certain mental health issues, it fails to provide any resources for individuals - especially young individuals who are drawn to the show, and may be dealing with mental health issues they don't find easy to talk to adults about.



5.

It devalues the experiences of those who have been bullied or suicidal.


6.

Despite the show attempting to deal with concerns of mental health, it doesn't actually deal with it at all. There is no discussion of the character being depressed or suicidal – the viewer is only shown, which can be fine in essence, but if a show like this wants to deal with the really tough topic of mental health, or argue that it ‘cares’, tackling the problem head on would be a much preferred tactic.



And there's also the fact that not everyone who commits suicide has mental illness, although it is true that a staggering 90% of those who have died by suicide were found to have traces of mental illness. When it comes to teens, like the show's main characters and target audience, individuals with or will have serious mental illness issues are as high as one in five. It shouldn't come as such a surprise, with all these facts and figures, that for those between the ages of 10 and 14, it's the third leading cause of death, and for those between the ages of 15 and 34, it's second*.


As an individual who suffers from depression and severe anxiety, has been severely bullied, has considered suicide at various points in her life, and made a pile of bad decisions along the way, ’13 Reasons Why’ brought back the dark monster that many of us thought we had triumphed.


If this show is something that anyone still considers watching, approach with great caution.



*Facts and figures based on American studies.

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