Netflix's new hit series 13 Reasons Why, which follows the story of a teenage girl committing suicide, has caused a rise in mental health helpline calls.
According to ABC, Australia's youth mental health foundation Headspace have gotten calls from young people, parents and schools who have found the show 'distressing.'
The national manager for Headspace, Kristen Douglas said, "People have said the show has triggered their own vulnerabilities and made them consider whether suicide is a possible option for them." She adds, "We are so concerned about that and we see spikes in suicide when there is unsafe portrayals,"
The creator of the show, Brian Yorkey recently had to defend their decision to show Hannah's suicide scene in graphic detail. He says, "We worked very hard not to be gratuitous, 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."
Suicide is preventable. Anyone affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-8255
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