Teen suicide rate increases after "13 reasons"

When Netflix released the first season of its popular mega series 13 reasons why, which portrays a teenage girl who died by suicide and leaves messages to classmates whom she blames for her death, the program has raised serious concerns about the possibility of this leading to an increase in suicides. The National Association of School Psychologists has even issued a warning that it "would not recommend to vulnerable youth, especially those with suicidal thoughts, to watch this series. His powerful narrative can lead impressionable viewers to romanticize the choices made by the characters and / or to develop fantasies of revenge. "

A new study, published Monday by the Psychiatry Journal of the Child and the Teen, found that in April 2017, one month after the release of the series, suicide rates had increased dramatically among boys aged 10 to 17, according to the New York report. Time reports. According to the study, this month had the highest suicide rate among this demographic group in the last five years. The suicide rate among girls in this age group has not increased significantly. According to the Associated Press, there were 195 more youth suicides than expected in the nine months following the broadcast.

The results of the study are plausible but his methods were not complete. For example, the study did not incorporate data on suicide attempts. The researchers did not know if people who had died by suicide had seen the show.

Lisa Horowitz, co-author of the study and researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health, said in a statement: "The results of this study should raise public awareness that young people are particularly vulnerable to the media … All disciplines, including the media, must be careful to be constructive and thoughtful about topics that overlap with public health crises. "

A spokesperson for Netflix said that they had just seen the study and were looking at the issue, adding, "It's about a topic of Of crucial importance and we have striven to take charge of this sensitive issue responsibly. " Netflix has already added various warnings and warnings. at the beginning and end of some episodes.