DISCLAIMER: I have not fully read the book or watched any episodes of “13 Reasons Why”.
Many people are praising “13 Reasons Why” because they say it shows awareness for bullying, depression, and suicide, but there is another side to every story. Some people think that the media can affect the audience in a negative way. “Some mental health experts say the show could pose health risks for certain young people, such as those who have suicidal thoughts” (CNN). This is saying that if a teen has suicidal thoughts or depression, it could add to their mental health issues.
In a way, it kind of seems like “13 Reasons Why” glamorizes suicide. Since I was younger, I always thought that many things kind of glamorized living life with depression and thoughts of suicide, especially things like social media.
Since I have not watched the show, or even finished reading the book, I can’t really form my own opinion about how they portray bullying and suicide and everything else that comes with it. But, what I can say is that coming from someone knowing a lot about mental health issues, sometimes reading or watching things that have to do with depression or suicide, doesn’t really help, it can sometimes make things worse. Maybe, for other people with mental health issues, it can comfort them in a way, maybe it could show that they aren’t the only ones going through what they’re going through and maybe it can help them overcome their depression.
“13 Reasons Why” is not the only book or show that people can have this opinion about, but it sure has been a popular topic since it has come out. If you are interested in reading more about this topic here are some articles that you can read:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/25/health/13-reasons-why-teen-suicide-debate-explainer/
http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/features/does-13-reasons-why-glamorize-teen-suicide-w476303