13 Problems With Thirteen Reasons Why

The new Netflix series based on Jay Asher's book is bringing light to an important topic in all the wrong ways, so let's think critically about this. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis you can always call the LifeLine at 1-800-273-8255 or chat with them online . Remember you are loved and wanted here <3

1. Hannah Baker didn't feel like a burden

Pop Sugar

Thomas Joiner, an academic psychologist and expert on suicide says that feeling like one is a burden to friends and family is one of the strongest predictors of death by suicide. Hannah Baker didn’t feel like a burden-- she was angry, vengeful, and sad.

2. Graphic representation of suicide increases suicide risk

Pop Buzz

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention says in their guidelines that graphic representation of suicide increases suicide risk in vulnerable populations. The way the show portrayed exactly how Hannah took her life was irresponsible, and will probably inspire copycat, or contagion suicides.

3. Suicide is romanticized

The Boston Globe

The show has romanticized suicide and normalized it as a response to bullying. Your experiences of bullying are valid even if you’ve never felt suicidal as a result.

4. You only see what NOT to do

Half Of Us.com

The audience is shown what NOT to do in a mental health emergency, but examples of what TO DO are not shown. For TO DOs during a mental health crisis check out HalfofUs.com .

5. Representation of mental illness is missing

National Alliance on Mental Illness

90% of those who die by suicide experience mental illness. Depression and other mental illness that may lead to suicide are not discussed in the show.

6. Reasons for suicide are oversimplified

Beth Dubber

The way Hannah is bullied into taking her own life dangerously oversimplifies perceptions of suicide, and furthers the idea that there is someone to blame for a suicide.

7. Resources for dealing are not available soon enough

Instantwatcher

While there are trigger warnings for graphic scenes, suicide prevention and other mental health resources are not made available to the audience directly after these jarring depictions. There is a Beyond the Series feature that plays after the show and interviews mental health professionals, but it is not searchable by itself.

8. The adults are awful

Beth Dubber

It shows teens' world through adults eyes, and the teens are portrayed by adult actors. The adult perspective bloats the series with examples of bad parenting like condoning family violence and encouraging underage partying.

9. Hannah isn't a well-defined character

Hannah is not a well defined character in her own right, instead she is characterized by her victimization and her death.

10. It's going to change how suicide is viewed for the worse

Empathos

Covering suicide in this manner can dangerously influence the way suicide is viewed. 13 Reasons Why may continue the stigma that suicide is a selfish act. Joiner, the academic psychiatrist, said in an NPR interview, “Their idea is along the lines of, my death will be worth more than my life to others. Now, if you ponder that sentiment, that's not selfish at all.”

11. We never see a successful request for help

We never get to see a successful request for help. Hannah’s counselor was not receptive to her need and she was totally unsupported. Most school counselors are not like that. They want to listen, and they want to help.

12. Alcohol and drug use are normalized

Ray Lozano

The show normalizes use of alcohol and marijuana in informal setting as well as formal school settings.

13. The book is better

Shmoop

The book is better. It is more empathetic, compassionate and more realistic. The TV series blows events up and aggrandizes them. I'm a librarian though, so I may be biased.