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A NEW STUDY has found that teen suicide rates rose in the United States in the months following the release of 13 Reasons Why.
The first season of the show centred around a 17-year-girl who took her own life and left a series of tapes behind explaining her reasons.
The series was later renewed for a second season despite widespread criticism - with a third season due to be released later this year.
An article published in the American Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry analysed data based on suicide rates in the US over a five-year period before and after the release of the show.
It found the rate of suicide among teenagers aged between 10 and 17 had increased by almost 29% in April 2017, a month after the show’s release.
It was also the highest increase of any month recorded in the five-year period – between January 2013 and December 2017 – which was analysed for the study.
“The researchers said it was an example of potential unintended negative consequences of media portrayals of suicide that do not adhere to best practices”.
The study found: “There was a visible and statistically significant effect of the release of 13 Reasons Why.”
A spokesperson for Netflix told TheJournal.ie they were looking into the latest study as it conflicted with a Pennsylvanian University Study which claimed the show reduced the risks of suicide among teens.
“It’s a critically important topic and we have worked hard to ensure that we handle this sensitive issue responsibly,” she said.
That study claimed the show had a positive influence on teens who watched it.
Researchers also forecasted a particular increase in suicide rates amongst girls following the show’s release but found a greater increase in the number of boys who died by suicide in the months following.
Suicide rates in adults across all age-brackets showed no significant increase, researchers found.
“In contrast to findings for children and adolescents, analysis of suicide rates in 18 to 29-year-olds and 30 to 64-year-olds showed no statistically significant increase in the suicide rate immediately following the release,” according to the data collected.
It concluded: “The increase in youth suicide rates that occurred after the initial release of 13 Reasons Why provides an example of potential unintended negative consequences of media portrayals of suicide that do not adhere to best practices.”
A number of universities, hospitals and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) were involved in carrying out the research.
“The results of this study should raise awareness that young people are particularly vulnerable to the media,” said author, Lisa Horowitz.
“All disciplines, including the media, need to take good care to be constructive and thoughtful about topics that intersect with public health crises,” she added.
A third season of 13 Reasons Why has already filmed and is set to air later his year on Netflix.
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Worrying that so many young folk seem unable to separate what they see on a screen from real life.
@dublindamo: I don’t think it’s necessarily that, but a depressed teen watching the show will (likely) feel a sense of connection to the main character in the show, who is seemingly feeling what they’re feeling. The character they identify with kills themselves, it makes it seem not to bad for them to do it.
Don’t forget the drama of it all.
I remember watching the suicide scene in the rules of attraction when I was a teen and being absolutely fascinated with it, and would replay it in my mind whenever I was feeling particularly depressed.
@dublindamo: ‘Real life’ to so many teens now is exactly that – what is happening on a screen. Everything of significance happens on social media through their phone.
@dublindamo: Not just young people. Suicide is contagious, the researchers could have saved themselves a lot of bother by reading this http://freakonomics.com/podcast/new-freakonomics-radio-podcast-the-suicide-paradox/
@dublindamo: Does the media create society or does it copy it, now we know the answer???
@Veronica: Whatever happened me in life, I always wanted to see what happened next…
I think the problem is that the show depicts this huge presence and influence the young girl goes on to have after her suicide through the tapes she leaves behind. It lessens the finality of suicide, the reality that when you are gone, you are gone. For some troubled teens the potential for a similarly dramatic exit might be very alluring.
@Sharon Murphy: I fully agree; while I’d also like to point out that young people are obviously more susceptible and prone to phenomenon/ movements.
When Justin Bieber was filmed smoking marijuana, the #CutForBieber trend began, where fans were cutting their wrists and forearms in order to make him stop. Worrying.
@Sharon Murphy: plausible
I’m not surprised by this at all. The show does slightly glamourise suicide in a sense, and with the target audience been 14-17 year olds this only means one thing.
Stopped watching during season 2. There’s just so many details wrong about what it means to struggle with mental health. Just hate how they painted certain themes in a much lighter way.
Mental health (or lack of) seems to be out of control in America. Are they putting something in the water? I was in LA a few years ago and it was wall to wall crazy people… People hitting themselves, people having full blown arguments with themselves. I’ve never seen it anywhere else in the world.
@Peter Cavey: people with mental health issues in the US often find themselves homeless. L.A. has a high rate of homeless people living on the streets as the climate is so warm
Did they analyze the watch history of these people on Netflix? Did similar events happen in other places? Did these people copy the storyline?
Why doesn’t the article mention the increased rate was in boys?
The study doesn’t necessarily prove cause and effect. It links a proposed increase in suicide rates with the show but it doesn’t prove that the show itself was the reason for this increase. Studies can be misleading. Not doubting the study’s salient mesaage on suicide and possible cause. It does make some good points.
I wonder what percentage of people took up mass murder after watching conversations with a killer
Shit
@emer caffrey: fantastic insight emer.
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