Help Line Calls Surge After Release of Netflix ‘13 Reasons Why’ Depicting Teen Suicide

Labelled the latest binge-worthy series from Netflix, ’13 Reasons Why’ also has many people alarmed by the content of the show.  The series features a high school student, Hannah Baker played by Perth actress Katherine Langford, who after suffering cyber bullying and sexual assault takes her own life leaving behind a box of tapes pointing the finger at many of her peers.

The show presents the main character’s method and means of suicide in graphic and confronting detail.

Following its release in Australia earlier this year the series was deemed responsible for an increase in calls to help lines around the country.

Headspace Australia reported many young people, students, parents and schools have who have found the content distressing have contacted them with a large range of concerns. Some of them claiming to have been triggered to consider suicide as a viable option.

A recent study published in the American Medical Association’s Journal, JAMA Internal Medicine examined Google search data reporting suicide related queries have alarmingly gone up by 20% (1.5 million more suicide-related searches) in the USA in the 19 days following the release of Netflix TV series, ‘13 Reasons Why.’

The team behind the show have used Clinical Psychologist Helen Hsu to work with the crew during production.  Their aim is to raise awareness about real life struggles teens faced at school and to show there’s nothing worthwhile about suicide. Netflix will be releasing a second season.

However the research team found that the Google searches were primarily about suicide ideation, people searching for ways to end their own lives.

Phillipians 4:8

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”.

Sources: 

ABC NEWS – Netflix show 13 Reasons why sparks increased calls to mental health helplines

Image – ABC News

American Medical Association Journal JAMA Internal Medicine

Where to Get Help

Talk to your doctor who can point you in the right direction.

Visit CCAA to search for a Christian counsellor near you.

Visit ACA to search for a counsellor near you.

Free 24/7 Counselling Services

Lifeline on 13 11 14

Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800

MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978

Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467

Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36

Headspace on 1800 650 890

Studying at aifc

Have you thought about counselling?   It’s a great opportunity to learn how you can extend God’s love and grace to the hurting out in the community.

For those who would like to enrol in aifc’s accredited Christian counselling courses we have two intakes per year for courses commencing around the following months:

• At The beginning of each year in February.
• Mid-Year courses commence in July.

Enrolments open approximately 3 months prior the courses commencing. Enquire now and fill out the form with your details to receive course information by email.

Note: A Masters course in Christian counselling will be introduced in 2018.