A popular new Netflix TV series centring on teen suicide has prompted a number of Canadian school boards to issue warnings to educators and parents about the showâs sensitive subject matter.
The series â13 Reasons Whyâ follows the story of high school student Hannah Baker and what led her to die by suicide. The show is based on the young adult novel by Jay Asher and has become one of Netflixâs most-buzzed about programs, particularly among teenagers.
But not everyone is a fan of the new series. School administrators and parents have expressed concerns about the graphic content and its portrayal of suicide.
School Mental Health Assist, an organization that works in conjunction with the Ontario Ministry of Education, issued a message about â13 Reasons Whyâ to all Ontario school boards
"Use of the Netflix series, â13 reasons Why,â as a teaching tool is not recommended,â it read. âThe material is graphic and potentially triggering for vulnerable young people.â
The memo also included a number of talking points for educators to refer to if theyâre asked about the show by their students.
School board warnings
Hamilton Wentworth District School Board was one of the first districts to immediately follow suit and they to make families aware of the controversial show.
âIt has graphic content related to suicide, glamorization of suicidal behaviour and negative portrayals of helping professionals, which may prevent youth from seeking help,â the memo said.
The school board advised against using the show as a teaching aid in classrooms and recommended that parents watch it with their children so they can address any concerns or questions they may have about it.
Andrea Poncia, coordinator of the Community Suicide Prevention Network, told CTV Ottawa on Wednesday that she agrees that communication is important for families when it comes to the sensitive topics tackled on â13 Reasons Why.â
âThe most important thing is to really listen and be non-judgmental and empathetic,â Poncia said. âAnd not be afraid to ask if theyâre thinking of suicide."
Other Ontario school boards that released similar memos concerning the show included, Durham District School Board, Peel District School Board and the Ottawa-Carleton School Board.
In Quebec, the English Montreal School Board and the Lester B. Pearson School Board in Quebec have also urged caution about the series to educators and parents.
Cindy Finn, the director of student services for the Lester B. Pearson School Board, told CTV Montreal on Thursday that teachers should use âapprovedâ resources if theyâre going to have conversations about suicide with their students.
âItâs important to focus the conversation on solving issues and moving towards solutions,â Finn said.
Finnâs school board is still waiting on official guidance on how to handle the TV show in classrooms from Quebecâs education ministry.
Mental health professionals have expressed unease about one scene where the main character, Hannah, has an unproductive experience talking to her schoolâs guidance counsellor.
Dr. Marshall Korenblum, the chief psychiatrist at the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre for Children and Families in Toronto, told CTV Toronto on Tuesday that portraying school staff and parents as âinept or stupidâ in the series may have the harmful effect of deterring teenagers from seeking help.
âNow, admittedly a lot of teenagers view adults that way so one could argue that itâs realistic but the counsellor session she has with the school guidance counsellor is an example of everything someone shouldnât do,â he said.
Sparking conversation
Korenblum did acknowledge, however, that â13 Reasons Whyâ has showed âcourageâ for trying to tackle difficult subjects such as bullying, rape culture and of course, suicide.
Carol Todd, founder of the âAmanda Todd Legacy,â which was created after her daughter died by suicide in 2012, said she also believes itâs necessary to talk about these subjects and praised the show for sparking a worldwide conversation about mental health, suicide, cyber abuse, revenge and sexual assault.
However, she said the criticisms about the showâs graphic content are justified because they can have a lasting impact on teenagers.
âOnce you have something visually in your brain, it doesnât really go away,â Todd told CTVâs Your Morning on Thursday.
Brian Yorkey, the showâs creator, told The Associated Press that the series is intended to be âdifficult to watchâ because these subjects are hard to cope with in reality.
âWe wanted to say, 'These things are happening in kids' lives. You can keep quiet about them. You can keep kids from watching shows about them. It's not going to stop them from happening in kids' lives and you should be talking about that,ââ he said.
Yorkey said the scenes depicting bullying, sexual assault and suicide needed to be âunflinching and raw.â He added that he disagrees with the accusations that the series glamorizes suicide.
âWe did the exact opposite,â Yorkey said. âWhat we did was portray suicide and we portrayed it as very ugly and very damaging.â
Kate Walsh, the actress who plays Hannahâs mother in the show, has spoken out in defence of the show to a number of different U.S. media outlets recently. She told USA Today on Friday that she believes series creator Brian Yorkey was trying to make it as ârealâ and âaccurateâ as possible.
"I think that anything that's at all kept secret is inextricably intertwined with shame and secrecy, (and) should be outed," she said. "I can't speak for Brian, but I know that it was important for us to be as honest as we could."
Korenblum said parents shouldnât try to ban their children from watching the show. Instead, he advised families view it together so they can discuss it.
âThe cat is out of the bag. Itâs out there so kids are going to watch it,â he said. âThereâs no harm in talking about suicide but itâs got to be balanced, reasonable and include a message of hope and optimism.â
With files from CTV Toronto, CTV Ottawa, CTV Montreal and The Associated Press
Here are some resources for teens and parents who may need help:
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