'13 Reasons Why' Creator Responds to Studies Linking Series to Suicide by Arguing it Fights Stigmas

This article contains mention of self-harm and suicide.

13 Reasons Why was embroiled in controversy upon its release, with its depiction of suicide being a polarizing issue that divided many viewers. While some felt that the show offered a frank conversation about the topic, others felt that it commodified suicide and affirmed it as something that teenagers could do to get attention. In fact, a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry argued that teen suicide rates actually rose following the broadcast of the show--and this week, the show’s creator disputed studies like these.

According to Digital Spy, showrunner Brian Yorkey and series psychiatric advisor Rebecca Hedrick argued in The Hollywood Reporter that the show actually helped to destigmatize discussions of suicide and mental illness.

“The writers and producers worked with psychiatrists, experts in sexual assault as well as bullying, school counsellors and teachers to ensure that even the most challenging scenes were grounded in reality," they wrote, adding that, “Just as with the book, we've heard from people all around the world that the series gave them the courage to talk about issues they'd struggled to discuss before, including with their own families.”

They also offered data of their one, providing one study asserting that the show helped college-aged individuals talk about suicide without provoking suicidal thoughts or actions. Additionally, they took issue with the data used in the studies linking the series to suicide, noting that, despite the study’s hypothesis, “There was no increase in suicide rates for adolescent girls [the spring that the show premiered]– and for boys the increase started before the show even launched.”

As for us, we’re unsure of how to land on the topic. On the one hand, there are certainly conversations to be had about 13 Reasons Why and its depiction of suicide--but it accomplishes nothing to get faulty evidence.