Netflix eliminates the controversial suicidal scene of 13 Reasons Why two years later

Content Warning: This story contains references to suicide.

Netflix removed the graphic scene of the first season's suicide of 13 Reasons Why, more than two years after the start of the series on the service.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Netflix has made the decision to change the controversial scene in anticipation of the third season of the drama for young adults.

"Many young people told us that 13 Reasons Why encouraged them to start discussions on difficult issues like depression and suicide and to ask for help, often for the first time," Netflix said in a statement. communicated.

"As we prepare to launch the season three later this summer, we are paying attention to the ongoing debate around the series.So, on the advice of medical experts, including Dr. Christine Moutier, Chief Medical Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, I decided with the creator Brian Yorkey and the producers to edit the scene in which Hannah is stepping out of the first season. "

The three-minute scene, which is no longer available, originally represented the protagonist of the series, Hannah (Katherine Langford), ending his day in the graphic detail in the middle of the final of Season 1

The new set now shows Hannah looking in the mirror of the bathroom, before the show cuts her parents and discovers her corpse in the bathroom.

The Hollywood Reporter said the basic information on the viewing habits of 13 Reasons Why informed the service that each season invited new viewers to the show, which would in turn have been exposed to the unseen scene.

"We had hoped, by transforming 13 reasons for a TV show, to tell a story that would help young viewers to feel seen and heard, and would encourage the empathy of all who view it, just like from the best-selling book we had before us, "Yorkey said in a statement.

"Our creative intent to portray the terrible and painful reality of suicide with such detail in the first season was to tell the truth about the horror of such an act and to make sure that no one would ever want to." But as we are ready for the third season, Dr. Christine Moutier of the American Foundation for the Prevention of Suicide, among others, expressed her concern and we agreed with Netflix to reissue it. .

"No scene is more important than the life of the show and its message that we have to take better care of each other, and we think this editing will help the show do the most good for most people. while mitigating the risks for particularly vulnerable people, young viewers. "

The review has been supported by various groups of mental health experts, including the American Association of Suicidology.

13 Reasons, and the scene in question, was criticized for his hyper-realistic depiction of suicide upon his release in 2017. The new Statesman writer Neha Shah wrote that the scene of suicide "feels uncomfortably close to one. The show is right to try to give teenagers a lesson in compassion and sensitivity, but seeing Hannah Baker cut her high-definition wrists does nothing for youth suicide prevention. "

The New Zealand Bureau of Film and Literature has given the show a rating of R18 in response to its graphic content, saying in a statement: "The suicide method is clearly demonstrated.

"The real links between mental health and suicide are not discussed in the series at all.The choice of the main character to kill himself is also described in a very fatalistic way.In real life, most of those who have ideas Suicidal patients are recovering and do not end their lives. "

13 reasons The third season of Why is scheduled for 2019.

O GET HELP:

If your mental health or that of someone else worries you, the best place to get help is your GP or your local mental health provider. However, if you or another person is in danger or if you put others at risk, call the police immediately at 111.

OR IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE:

• 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP) (available 24/7)
• https://www.lifeline.org.nz/services/suicide-crisis-helpline
• YOUTHLINE: 0800 376 633
• NEED TO TALK? Free Call or SMS 1737 (available 24/7)
• KIDSLINE: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• WHATSUP: 0800 942 8787 (13h00 to 23h00)
• DEPRESSION SERVICE: 0800 111 757 or TEXT 4202