MovieChat Forums > 13 Reasons Why (2017) Discussion > Show blamed for suicides

Show blamed for suicides

posted 7 years ago by Apis (1624)
5 replies | jump to latest

Parents of two teenage girls blame this series for their daughters' suicides. They claim that the series "glorifies" suicide and say that the teens committed suicide shortly after watching the show.

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/teens/tv-show-13-reasons-why-inspired-suicides-of-teens-bella-herndon-and-priscilla-chiu/news-story/fef99deaaad1ada83393240b12c5bc68

More from the article:

"Last month teachers in Austria stopped a double suicide pact by two girls aged 13 who had reportedly been inspired by 13 Reasons Why."

"And a number of British schools issued a suicide warning, urging parents to talk to their kids if they have watched 13 Reasons."

I have a feeling that after this turn of events, there might be no Season 2, if there were plans to make it.

[–] winslow (1318) 7 years ago

They're already working on season 2, but I expect they will do more in the new stories to address the criticisms of season 1.

[–] higgolini (3) 7 years ago

Horrific. For me personally, considering how much pain and tragedy her suicide (and tapes) placed on the people she left behind, what this series inspires in me is the belief that suicide should never be an option, EVER. But I understand how younger people (I'm 32) may interpret the series as showing suicide as an option and a good way to get attention and revenge on people you think messed up your life. It's absolutely horrible that this has inspired such actions.

[–] TribalFunkster (62) 7 years ago

I have to agree with you mate. Media not just reflects what happens but influences to a certain extent especially on minds that are
young and impressionable .

[–] Boricanator (1440) 7 years ago

Movies and shows constantly get blamed for bad things.

Taxi Driver was blamed for Reagan’s attempted assasination, for instance.

I think people need to focus on helping those that are vulnerable, instead of blaming these mediums. These things are going to continue existing and blaming them won’t solve anything.

[–] Freakflag1 (126) 7 years ago

I am Work in mental health and ive seen an increase in girls of suicidal, self harming behaviors. In fact, I have around 3 girls come to me and say almost word for word what Hannah baker says in this show.

These things absolutely do affect young minds. Since I've worked in my field, every year I've seen groups of girls bond together and self harming is rampant within their groups..they feed off of each other and influence each other. It's not uncommon for them to belong to self harm and suicidal social media pages, have tons of depressing music on their phones, watch suicidal videos on youtube, and watch films about depression and suicide. I have found that it's these groups who tend to be doing it more for attention or to fit in.

I believe this show makes suicide glamorous and there's an aspect of revenge almost in it that appeals to these young kids. Hannah Baker deeply hurt her parents and loved ones, and felt many people ruined her life, but really she continued to ruin others, even mostly, innocent people, through her tapes, causing enormous guilt for many.

It's not a show to be glorified.