The release of 13 Reasons Why on Netflix has sparked a huge uproar. Fans of the book are dedicated to its story (myself included) and are stressing the importance of the subjects discussed in the show. Others are asking that you don’t watch it, due to its lack of sensitivity regarding the subjects discussed and the way they are portrayed.
No matter the side that you fall on, we can all agree that this show is important and groundbreaking. Never before has rape, suicide, and mental health been depicted so openly and brutally in a show that millions are watching and sharing. However, there’s one thing I really don’t appreciate.
After merely a week of being on Netflix, this show is already being turned into memes and being shared throughout the internet for all the wrong reasons. The topics discussed and shown in this series are real and they’re serious. But instead of leaving everyone to ponder these important topics, the internet has turned them and the show into a joke. Memes have been posted about everything from Hannah and Clay’s relationship to why Courtney should’ve been the one to die. Yes, that’s right, people are actually saying another character deserved to die.
Show or not, this story is real. They may be just characters to the viewers, but to some people, they are real. There are really people out there who are suffering and families who have dealt with suicide first hand. I find it deplorable that once again our society has turned mental illness into a joke. This show is triggering, and many times I’ve had to force myself to turn it off because it was too much to grasp at one time.
Watch the show. Soak it in. Be upset by the topics discussed because that’s the whole point of it. We should be reflecting on the fact that bullying really does lead to suicide, and suicide really does happen every single day. Instead of making memes, take a look around you and see what you can do to prevent Hannah’s story from becoming someone else’s as well.
If you or someone you know is in need of help, here are some resources to use:
National Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-8255
Millersville Counseling Center
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