Netflix pledges to examine 13 Reasons Why teen suicide rate spike
A new study has found that a spike in teenage suicide rates correlates with the release of the popular and controversial Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why.
On Monday, a report from the Journal of the American Academy of Child revealed that the overall suicide rate among 10- to 17-year-olds in the US increased significantly in the month immediately following the release of 13 Reasons Why.
In the nine months after the show’s release there were 195 more deaths by suicide in this age group than were expected based on historical trends.
The Netflix show focuses on the suicide of a teenage girl and its audience is 65 per cent female. However, the study found that male suicide rates within the 10-17 age group increased by 28.9 per cent in the month following the release of 13 Reasons Why.
The report concluded that “Caution regarding the exposure of children and adolescents to the series is warranted.”
Netflix responded to the findings on Tuesday, stating: “This is a critically important topic and we have worked hard to ensure that we handle this sensitive issue responsibly.”
The study follows several accusations that 13 Reasons Why has had a dangerous effect. The Samaritans called the popular series “misleading” and New Zealand even introduced a new rating for the programme, prohibiting under 18s from watching it alone.
In 2018, two schoolgirls in Austria were alleged to have attempted suicide after watching the show, although this was never confirmed.
Research by San Diego State University also found that in the days after the series first aired March 2017, Google search queries for “how to commit suicide” dramatically increased.
Lisa Horowitz, co-author of the Journal of the American Academy of Child study and scientist at the National Institute of Mental Health, said in a statement, “The results of this study should raise awareness that young people are particularly vulnerable to the media.
“All disciplines, including the media, need to take good care to be constructive and thoughtful about topics that intersect with public health crises.”
