WARNING: ARTICLE INCLUDES SPOILERS!
Just recently, I finished the highly-talked-about Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why. I know, I know… I’m late to the game. I am fully aware that it came out in March. I would have watched it when it first came out but honestly, I was too scared to. All over social media, I heard things like “this show is too triggering!” or “this show romanticizes suicide!” and “if you have any experience with anxiety or depression, do not watch this show!”
When I read these comments, I was conflicted. I had already read the book, and as sad as it was to read Hannah Baker’s story, I was able to handle it because it was only a reality in my head. My mind was making up the images to the story, but seeing the show actually bring this story to life made it almost too real to me. However, actually seeing Hannah Baker’s story come to life on the show was something I was scared to see. I wasn’t sure if I, someone who has anxiety and has dealt with depression in the past, wanted to see people bully this poor girl so much that she would take her own life. Most importantly, I didn’t know if I could handle watching that infamous suicide scene. So I ended up listening to these comments and stayed away from watching the show. However, near the end of the summer, as I was on my bed scrolling through all of Netflix’s shows and movies, I saw 13 Reasons Why pop up.
I don’t what changed in my mind, but I decided to press play. I needed to watch this for myself. I know a lot of people said they watched the entire show in a couple days, if not in a day, but I had to take my time with this show. Just like how Clay Jenson had to take a couple weeks to listen to the tapes, I had to take a couple weeks to finish this show. Why? Well I’m not going to lie…this show is very, very heavy. So little by little, day by day, I eventually finished the series. Now here’s my take on those comments:
“This show is too triggering!”
I can’t speak for the people who are suicidal or have been sexually assaulted, but to the people who have been bullied in the past (like myself), I wouldn’t say this is triggering to us, at least in my opinion. If anything, after seeing this show and Hannah’s suicide scene, this makes me want to be alive even more. It makes me want to help all the people out there right now being bullied who feel hopeless and help them know that they are not alone and that in the end, everything will eventually be okay.
“This show romanticizes suicide!”
This show absolutely does not romanticize suicide. Through every episode, you see Hannah’s depression get worse. You see her slowly become more and more hopeless. So hopeless that she ends up taking her own life. You then see how her parents are a complete wreck, and her friends, like Clay and Alex, have no idea how to adjust and live their lives after something so tragic as this happened. If anything, this series shows why suicide should not even be an option for someone because of all the pain it brings to the person’s loved ones. This series shows people that no matter how alone you feel, there is always someone in your life that cares about you.
“If you have any experience with anxiety or depression, do not watch this show!”
Now for this one, I’m going to leave to you all to decide. I’m not saying that everyone should watch this show. However, as someone who does have anxiety and has dealt with depression in the past, I will say that watching this show wasn’t as bad as people made it out be. It was heavy and dark, and I’m not going to lie, the suicide scene really messed me up for a couple of days. It was a very heavy and dark scene to watch. However, at the end of the day, I enjoyed watching the show because the acting was phenomenal and the story/message was so inspiring because it’s going to help so many people and bring awareness to the issues of bullying and teen suicide.
I didn’t take away more anxiety or depression from watching this show. What I took away is the message of “you are not alone,” and that’s beautiful to me. This show also educated me on the signs hinting that someone might be suicidal, so now I know what to look out for in friends/people I know. I believe this show will save lives by hopefully showing suicidal people that there are so many more options than suicide and also teaching people like myself to know the signs of suicidal people and to take action if you think someone is suicidal.
If you or someone you know is suicidal, please call the national suicide number: 1-800-273-8255.
HCXOXO,
Kelli Carmack
**photos taken from Google images**