'13 Reasons Why' and the Controversial Theme

Unless you've been living in some remote area with no internet service and only communicating with inanimate objects, then, chances are, you've seen (or, at least heard of) Netflix's recently released title, 13 Reasons Why. The series was adapted from a novel written by Jay Asher but, for now, I'm only going to discuss the Netflix show.

Clay Jensen, a run-of-the-mill, likable teenage boy, returns home from school one afternoon to find a shoe box filled with cassette tapes on his doorstep. When he begins listening to the tapes, he hears the voice of Hannah Baker, a friend/co-worker/love interest who recently committed suicide. Hannah goes on to provide 13 reasons why she did what she did.

We follow Clay as he relives the turmoil Hannah faced whilst navigating through her new high school. We come to learn the names of the people and scenarios that are to "blame" for her death. The situations that Hannah faced at the beginning of the tapes are not unlike some of my own. Bullying, slut-shaming and quarrels with friends are experiences I, myself, have faced. As the tapes keep playing, however, and the drama continues to unfold, the scenarios get darker and, frankly, heart breaking.

If you haven't been residing in the aforementioned black hole, devoid of any and all access to the western world, then you know that with this show came a lot of controversy.

On one side, we have those who were outraged by the depictions of rape. Those who say the graphic nature of which the scene was shot was unnecessary and offensive. On this same side, or those who find the show to be harmful in some way, they are arguing that the show glorifies suicide. Can showing the brutality of Hannah's death scene be a trigger for those who have experienced it in one way or another? What about the use of suicide as revenge? Is 13RW highlighting to young audiences that suicide can be used as the ultimate come back?

The counter arguments present such brutality only displays reality and that the show's goal isn't to glorify or promote suicide, but to shine light on the bullying and lack of compassion we may unknowingly show our peers. The question remains, will your behavior, even if subconscious, potentially drive another to suicide?

It can be fair to assume that those who are victims of suicide suffer from some type of emotional struggle. Whether it be mental illness or cyclic misfortune, the fact of the matter is, mentally stable people don't kill themselves. If you've ever been close to someone who has taken their own life, or attempted to do so, you know that often times those who are the closest to the individual experience an immense amount of guilt. "If only..", "What if I'd..." and "I should have..." are words that can circulate in ones mind after having experienced such tragedy. But, it's not their fault. It's not your fault. It never will be nor ever would've been, your fault.

13 Reasons Why, while maybe not in the best light, certainly opened up a conversation about suicide and suicide prevention and, as a person who has struggled with mental health issues my whole life, can be thankful for that.

Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255