Research Finds Spike in Suicides After Release of 13 REASONS WHY

13 Reasons Why has been a controversial show from the start. A show that talks about suicide always will find controversy. Well, it looks like some of what people feared may have come true. A study for the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP) found some strong correlations with suicide rates the month after the show premiered.

While the researchers are sure to mention that they could not prove causation, the month after 13 Reasons Why premiered found a 28.9% increase in suicides among the 10-17 years age group. The two other age groups (18-29 and 30-64 years) did not show the same trend. Also, the study found that the suicide rate spike came from boys in that young age group. Girls showed no significant change in that same age group.

Jeff Bridge, the lead author of the study and suicide researcher, even went on to say that the April suicide rate (13 Reasons Why released at the end of March) exceeded that of any of the previous 19 years. He said that the graphic depiction of the main character’s suicide is one thing that can lead to suicidal behavior.

Netflix says that they are seriously investigating this research and pointed to another study from Social Science & Medicine that has shown some interesting effects of its own. This second study focused on young adults between 18-29 years old who watched the second season at least partially. It found that if the adult stopped watching before the end, they were at a higher risk of suicide while those that finished the second season were “more likely to express interest in helping a suicidal person.”

I would like to point out to Netflix the big problem with the study they used as a rebuttal focuses on a different age group than that which had the spike in suicide. I do hope that everyone takes these concerns seriously and continues to look into this and maybe we can even find a way to lower suicide rates.

Via: NPR