May 17, 2018
Dear Parents/Guardians:
You may know that Netflix released a series entitled, “13 Reasons Why,” first released last year. The series tells of a girl who dies by suicide, leaving 13 audio tapes directed at 13 people who hurt or mistreated her, which prompts her suicide. The series is due to release again with a second season this weekend.
Our schools and region have struggled with many issues surrounding emotional health, even with reports of students close to home taking their own lives. Thus, it is important for us to alert parents and guardians to exercise caution regarding the show. While intended to generate discussion about suicide, the series, when released last year, had a negative effect on many young people and has been widely criticized by mental health and suicide prevention experts. The reasons cited as criticisms for season one, are as follows:
· It glorifies suicide, making it appear tempting/appealing to those who are depressed or vulnerable;
· It seems to be a teenage revenge story, giving the girl who dies the ultimate victory over those who hurt her;
· It does not address her mental health status, despite the fact that those who attempt suicide have mental health issues requiring treatment (often chronic/serious depression);
· It blames those around her for her death by suicide, failing to show that it is a choice she made in the moment;
· The depictions of sexual assault and her suicide are extremely graphic, which experts are already finding are triggering fear, anxiety, further depression and suicidal ideations or attempts in those who watch it;
· Trusted adults in school, such as a counselor, are trained to respond to any student needing support and do so in a compassionate way. The scene depicted in the series displays a school counselor who does not offer hope, compassion, or resources.
Many experts agree that children and youth should not watch this (if possible), and, if they do, they should watch it or process it with a caring adult. Indeed, while many television shows have ratings of TV-MA, and parents may exercise latitude in their permission for letting students watch shows with adult audiences in mind, there certainly are reasons for the ratings association to consider this as for mature audiences. In terms of young adults, there is varying degree of consistency, as the show can open dialogue with students about some of the issues surrounding adolescents and high schoolers. Regardless of whether a family or student chooses to watch this show, our hope would be that ongoing dialogue remains at the core of our partnership, particularly in addressing matters relative to teenage mental health, bullying, peer relationships, and suicide.
Please find linked here a valuable resource shared initially by the Franklin Public Schools, entitled 13 Reasons Why Talking Points, and linked here are supports from the National Association of School Psychologists. This list of talking points was created by The Jed Foundation and SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) to help and to aid parents/guardians in the conversations you have with your child(ren). The links below can also help you to discuss the matter.
Additionally, in response to season one, Netflix included some advisories and guidance with respect to the show, including some videos and resources
The National Suicide Prevention line is 1-800-273-8255. More locally, Riverside Emergency Services provides 24-hour support by trained mental health professionals and can be reached at 508-634-3420. We obviously have our own counseling team available if you feel so inclined as to contact us.
Finally, we urge you to reach out to your healthcare provider if you ever have any concerns about your child’s well-being. If you have other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at school. We want to do everything we can to keep our Spartans safe and strong.
Most sincerely,
Michael Rubin Leanne DeMarco
Principal Principal
Uxbridge High School McCloskey Middle School
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