Netflix has responded to a recent report that claimed the suicide rate among teenagers rose following the release of its drama 13 Reasons Why.
Earlier in the week, the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry published a study funded by the National Institute of Health.
It states that there were almost 200 more deaths by suicides than expected over the nine-month period following the March 31, 2017 release of 13 Reasons Why season one, and more deaths by suicide occurred in that April than any other April in the last nine years. It also states that deaths by suicide rose mostly among teenage boys.
A spokesperson for the streaming service said: “We’ve just seen this study and are looking into the research, which conflicts with last week’s study from the University of Pennsylvania. This is a critically important topic and we have worked hard to ensure that we handle this sensitive issue responsibly.”
The University of Pennsylvania study it refers to stated that people who had watched all of the show and saw the negative outcomes of the main character’s death were at less of a risk.
It’s important to note that these studies are not conclusive, and there are multiple factors that can affect the suicide rate in a population.
We would encourage anyone who identifies with the topics raised in this article to reach out. Readers are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.