[JerseyWins]

Originally Posted by Liam-

Having seen the show, I don’t agree that it was glorifying suicide, it did show it a grotesque way, but I think that was more of a way to highlight what actually happens when you do that, I can’t see it being an inspiration for people to kill themselves, even though it probably did give them an idea of how to do it if they were already thinking abouht it, at the end of the day, 12 is still an age where you should be seeing what they watch on tv and 13 reasons why isn’t exactly a show they should be watching, at least not on their own anyway imo

Agree with all of this

Hard to say whether the idea was already there for the girl or if the show created the idea for her. Maybe the show did show her a way to do it or make her feel more justified in doing it but it just as likely could’ve happened regardless. But at 12, either her parents or the friend’s parents should’ve been more careful about what they were watching as well (especially if there was any reason to be alarmed)

Either way, this is a very sad story though

[AnnieK]

I know people who know this girl's mum. The back story is a lot more complicated and she had many mental health issues which have been caused by family problems. I have never seen the show but it sounds awful but at 12 she shouldn't have been watching something like that anyway. However, I don't think the programme is to blame in this situation

[Liam-]

There were also a couple of explicit rape scenes, did that cause people to go out and rape people? You can’t put an idea in someone’s head if it wasn’t already being thought about.

It’s a very sad story, but a tv show isn’t responsible for mentally vulnerable kids killing themselves.

[JerseyWins]

But then again, at 12 I was probably watching worse so I can’t really blame the parents either, it’s not that easy to keep track of everything your kids do once they get a bit older.

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I'm not sure about it glorifying suicide either, the aftermath with the parents was pretty full on, and what are we saying here that some media has more influence than others?



Also the 30 per cent spike, what is that based on? teenage suicide in the US? so 30 teens in very 100 commit suicide, it seems a very high percentage?

It means a percentage increase in the number of suicides so let's say if there were 10,000 teen suicides last year, a 30% increase would be an increase of 3000 (so 13,000 this year).

I haven't seen the figures claiming that to be the case though, a 30% spike seems huge.

Again I have to reiterate that I don't think the show handles mental health or suicide well at all. Showing the aftermath of the suicide doesn't mitigate the fact that it's being used as the focus plot point for some relatively cheap teen drama and is handled in a dramatised, unrealistic way. Showing that her friends and family were upset does not mean that the act isn't glorified. Its a ham-fisted plot device.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

isnt it more that if there were 100 suicides then a 30% increase would have been 130

dont try and bamboozle me, maths is not my strong point!

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

It means a percentage increase in the number of suicides so let's say if there were 10,000 teen suicides last year, a 30% increase would be an increase of 3000 (so 13,000 this year).

I haven't seen the figures claiming that to be the case though, a 30% spike seems huge.

Again I have to reiterate that I don't think the show handles mental health or suicide well at all. Showing the aftermath of the suicide doesn't mitigate the fact that it's being used as the focus plot point for some relatively cheap teen drama and is handled in a dramatised, unrealistic way. Showing that her friends and family were upset does not mean that the act isn't glorified. Its a ham-fisted plot device.

You could say that about alot of issues on alot of shows though

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

I know people who know this girl's mum. The back story is a lot more complicated and she had many mental health issues which have been caused by family problems. I have never seen the show but it sounds awful but at 12 she shouldn't have been watching something like that anyway. However, I don't think the programme is to blame in this situation

Obviously she will have had mental health problems; no one who is healthy can be forced or encouraged to kill themself by a TV show, but that doesn't mean its unlikely to be a factor. Suicidal ideation is "infectious" - for example, if one student in a University accommodation completes suicide, their peers are at a significantly increased suicide risk - and people with suicidal thought can be prompted to act and put at risk by poorly handled things like this.

[chuff me dizzy]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

I know people who know this girl's mum. The back story is a lot more complicated and she had many mental health issues which have been caused by family problems. I have never seen the show but it sounds awful but at 12 she shouldn't have been watching something like that anyway. However, I don't think the programme is to blame in this situation

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Cherie

You could say that about alot of issues on alot of shows though

You can but the difference is that its usually a storyline or subplot within an established show. There are indeed plenty of examples of it being handled badly - but I can't think of another show where it is the CENTRAL theme and focus of the entire season and the main leveraged plot device. Or in other words, a show is usually the backdrop for a storyline that features suicide. In the case of this show, the suicide IS the backdrop upon which other storylines are mounted. IMO there's a huge difference.

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Liam-

There were also a couple of explicit rape scenes, did that cause people to go out and rape people? You can’t put an idea in someone’s head if it wasn’t already being thought about.

It’s a very sad story, but a tv show isn’t responsible for mentally vulnerable kids killing themselves.

It never glorified raping so its not a great comparison

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

You can but the difference is that its usually a storyline or subplot within an established show. There are indeed plenty of examples of it being handled badly - but I can't think of another show where it is the CENTRAL theme and focus of the entire season and the main leveraged plot device. Or in other words, a show is usually the backdrop for a storyline that features suicide. In the case of this show, the suicide IS the backdrop upon which other storylines are mounted. IMO there's a huge difference.

Degrassi is a fine example of a show which featured real life struggles in it's storylines

[parmnion]

I'm not surprised this has happened..

[parmnion]

Like..you know kids are warned about Cannibis use and how thier brains are not fully matured yet and it can harm them.....


What makes the internet any different.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I am usually very against blaming shows/games/whatever for stuff like this. And I do think there will be more things at play than just the show, however...I watched this and can well see how teens and that would think it was a good idea to copycat. It was all made out to be such a great way to get revenge..look..everyone will realise they were actually twats if you just cut your wrists in the bath! Quite gross really.

A girl aged 12
alone with her parents Netflix account.
That was wrong

[parmnion]

Ts hits the point really and everyone of those points he made could be a young immature brain taking one trigger point and thinking yeah..That's exactly how I feel....now that could lead them to turning thier lives around, but as far as this show goes it could also be the trigger point to follow through on your thoughts and kill yourself

[Tom4784]

People don't kill themselves because they've watched a TV show. Suicidal tendencies are born of longstanding issues and I don't think it's wise to blame a TV show since all that does is ignore the real cause.

[parmnion]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

People don't kill themselves because they've watched a TV show. Suicidal tendencies are born of longstanding issues and I don't think it's wise to blame a TV show since all that does is ignore the real cause.

The show can be the tipping point to all those thoughts though, especially to such a young non fully grown brain..


It's like call off duty and games liken that turning kids into zombies a bit

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Livia

I agree with Sean too.

I will smack you