The suicide rate among the teenagers in the United States rose in the months after the release of the popular and controversial Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why, a study has found. This teen drama follows the story of a high school girl who took her own life.
This Netflix series was met with concern when it was released in March 2017, with education and health professionals fearing the content of the series could be harmful to adolescents who are considered as a vulnerable population.
According to the study, experts estimated that there were 195 suicide deaths that were added, which is an increase of 29%, among 10 to 17-year-olds in just 9 months after the show was released on the streaming platform.
The number of suicide deaths among the same age range increased a month immediately after the show was released. The study was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The study also showed additional deaths were mainly boys.
However, the experts were not able to study a link between viewing the series and the increase in suicides nor name other factors that may have contributed to the increase in the suicide rate. Author of the study Jeffrey Bridge, who leads the team of researchers from the Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio, told AFP that the series showed the main character's suicide in a manner that was considered sensationalized.
"It is very concerning that a graphic depiction of the method of Hannah's suicide was shown, which can be traumatic for survivors of suicide loss or suicide attempt and also provides a particular pathway for suicide in some cases," he said.
"The results of this study confirmed concerns about how the series disregarded best practice guidelines for depicting suicide in the media."
The national suicide rates from January 2013 to December 2017, showed no change in the level of suicides among 18 to 64-year-olds. There was a previous study that suggested an increase of 19% in internet searches connected to suicide just days after "13 Reasons Why" was released.
Despite all of this, Netflix renewed the series for a third season and said it was "looking into the research".
"This is a critically important topic and we have worked hard to ensure that we handle this sensitive issue responsibly," a Netflix spokesperson said.
Kids can't be protected at all times, the best way that they can learn is through their own experiences however, when it comes to sensitive matters that are shown on the media in a time when social media use has been reported to contribute to the increase of anxiety and depression amongst teens, the best way to battle it is through parental supervision and sound medical advice.
