Last year, Netflix released the first season of 13 Reasons Why. The show is based on the novel of the same name and concerns the suicide of a teenage girl named Hannah Baker, who left behind 13 tapes for the people she blames for her decision to end her own life.
Understandably, as the show deals with some taboo topics such as rape and mental health problems, the show was deemed to be inappropriate for a young audience - but young teens still tuned in to watch. Because of this, Netflix received a number of complaints, and many people took to social media in order to complain about the glorification of suicide throughout the series.
In the worst cases, some parents even blamed the show for the suicides of their own children.
And, though many people claimed that parents were simply overreacting, there was a notable impact on the types of things being searched after the show was aired.
Statistics show that shortly after 13 Reasons Why hit Netflix, the phrase "how to commit suicide" was searched 26 percent more times than what would normally have been expected for that time. "Suicide prevention" was looked up 23 percent more, and "suicide hotline number" searches went up by 21 percent.
"Soon after the Season 1 launch, we saw global conversation explode on the controversial topics covered by the series and understood we had a responsibility to support these important discussions," said Brian Wright, Netflix’s vice president of original series.
Because of this, Netflix decided to commission a study on their audience's reaction to the show.
The study found that "71% of teens and young adults found the show relatable, and nearly three-quarters of teen and young adult viewers said the show made them feel more comfortable processing tough topics."
It concludes:
"The hope is that the steps we’re taking now will help support more meaningful conversations as Season 2 rolls out later this year. We’ve seen in our research that teens took positive action after watching the series, and now – more than ever – we are seeing the power and compassion of this generation advocating on behalf of themselves and their peers."
However, despite finding that the show had an overall positive effect on its viewers, Netflix still decided to issue a trigger warning before the new season became available.
In the minute-long clip, four actors from the show introduce themselves and their character, before explaining that 13 Reasons Why depicts certain material which may not be appropriate for everyone.
"13 Reasons Why is a fictional series that tackles tough, real-world issues," begins Justin Prentice.
"By shedding a light on these difficult topics, we hope our show can help viewers start a conversation," adds Katherine Langford.
"But if you are struggling with these issues yourself, this series may not be right for you," Alisha Boe continues.
"And if you ever feel you need someone to talk with, reach out to a parent, a friend, a school counselor, or an adult you trust," says Dylan Minnette.
Considering the criticism the show has faced in the past, the decision to release a trigger warning seems like a wise one. Hopefully, this will encourage a healthier discussion of the topics that are depicted, rather than lead to more young people believing they have to suffer their mental health problems alone, or that suicide is a viable option.
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