13 Reasons Why has been criticised by a mental health organisation

They called the show 'dangerous'

13 reasons why controversy

by Polly Foreman |
Published on

13 Reasons Why seems to be all everyone's talking about right now, but the reactions haven't always been positive.

The latest criticism that the Netflix drama has faced comes from a mental health organisation, which has criticised the way it tackles issues like teen suicide and depression.

The organisation, Headspace, believes that some of the shocking graphic imagery the show uses is "risky" and possibly "distressing".

"There is a responsibility for broadcasters to know what they are showing and the impact that certain content can have on an audience – and on a young audience in particular," Headspace boss Dr. Steven Leicester said.

And Kristen Douglas, national manager of Headspace school support, added that "harmful suicide exposure" leads to "increased risk and possible suicide contagion".

She continued to Huffington Post Australia: "It's not like car crashes or cancer. Irresponsible reporting of suicide can lead to further death.

"We need to talk more about youth suicide, but there's a way of doing that and a way we can raise those concerns and have a range of awareness.

"But we need to steer clear of really dangerous things like method, or oversimplifying it to one thing like bullying."

Brian Yorkey, the show's creator, has previously defended the suicide scene (in which Hannah slits her wrists in a bathtub).

"We worked very hard not to be gratuitous," he said, "but we did want it to be painful to watch, because we wanted it to be very clear that there is nothing, in any way, worthwhile about suicide."

The show also came under fire from The X Factor's Lucy Spraggan, who criticised its portrayal of mental health. See more here.

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