In extremely good news, Netflix is stepping up its responsibility around mental health as it heads into the second season of 13 Reasons Why.
When the first season premiered in 2017, it raised important questions about what is appropriate when talking about suicide. There are firm rules in place for reporting on suicide for a very good reason: reporting on suicide in a irresponsible way has been proved, time and time again, to lead to further suicide attempts.
13 Reasons Why, while being a huge hit for Netflix, was also criticised internationally by mental health experts for glamorising suicide. Katherine Langford‘s character Hannah Baker sends her classmates a series of tapes before (graphically and excruciatingly) killing herself, presenting a false narrative where a suicide victim can gain some kind of closure.
Headspace even issued a warning over the show last year, calling on broadcasters and streaming services to be aware of the impact such a show – and in particular, the suicide scene – would have on a young and impressionable audience.
This time round, Netflix has actually partnered with both Headspace and Mindframe in Australia (and with similar organisations around the world) to ensure people have access to resources around bullying, sexual assault, drug abuse and suicide.
“13 Reasons Why has shone a light on tough and difficult topics, bringing them into mainstream discussions,” said Headspace CEO Jason Trethowan. “Our aim is to support young people who may be distressed by the content, and to help parents and schools engage in constructive conversations about the themes depicted in the show.”
It comes after Netflix commissioned a global research study with Northwestern University’s Centre on Media and Human Development into the impacts of season one. While it found that almost three-quarters of teens and young adults who watched the show said it made them feel more comfortable processing tough topics (and half even reached out to someone to apologise for how they had treated them), it was clear that parents wanted more guidance around mental health support.
The new resources – found at 13ReasonsWhy.info – at the moment simply point people to resources like Headspace and the Kids Helpline, but will later include discussion guides and videos were the cast address issues in the series, including bullying, sexual assault and drug abuse.
The show’s second season picks up in the aftermath of Hannah’s death, with Liberty High about to go on trial and her classmates working towards healing and recovery. Someone appears to be hellbent on keeping the details surrounding Hannah’s death a secret, but a series of ominous postcards lead Clay [Dylan Minette] and his classmates to uncover a “sickening secret and a conspiracy to cover it up.”
It launches on Netflix on May 18, 2018 – have a watch of the date announcement below.
