Netflix's popular show '13 Reasons Why' promotes a problematic picture of suicide and doesn't encourage those affected to seek help, write Mark Sinyor, Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, John Ackerman and Jeff Bridge for usatodayopinion
Mark Sinyor, Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, John Ackerman, Jeff BridgeIn the past month, our two research teams independently published separate studies examining suicide deaths in the U.S. following the first season of"13 Reasons Why."
Although some Season 1 viewers surveyed in research studies reported benefits, including improved mood and decreased participation in bullying, we think it is important to highlight that this assessment of benefits from the show paints an incomplete picture. The argument that"13 Reasons Why" might improve the lives of young viewers positions the series as a public health intervention of sorts.
Sadly, these truths are all missing in the first season of"13 Reasons Why," replaced by the exact opposite, popular myths and inaccurate information. Rather than providing valuable information about ways to cope with suicidal thoughts and behavior, the show glorifies its protagonist’s death, including a graphic depiction of how she died. Most important, the show portrays getting help for suicidal thoughts as absolutely futile, even counterproductive.
Efforts by the entertainment industry in the early 1990s to educate people about HIV, perhaps most famously the movie"Philadelphia," are another example. We no longer see media depicting people with HIV as dangerous or frightening. It may be that some viewers would respond to that with empathy but, again, we know that many would probably take harmful myths about HIV seriously and could stigmatize sufferers.
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