TALKING ABOUT “13 REASONS WHY”

Netflix's new production, “13 Reasons Why”, has been one of the most talked about and talked about lately. The series brings out an authentic account of the troubled period of adolescence. After suffering physical, sexual and psychological abuse, the 17-year-old protagonist Hannah Baker is destroyed to the point of seeing only one solution to her problems: ending her own life. Two weeks later, Clay Jensen, a classmate who is in love with Hannah, finds a mysterious box with several cassette tapes outside his door. As he listens, the tapes narrate stories of the victim giving his perspective on the situations she went through and culminated in her final decision. The content of the tapes is quite immersive, putting the viewer figuratively in the role of the victim in a profound way.

BULLYING AND SUICIDE
As the story unfolds, we realize that the bullying suffered by the protagonist is quite relevant for her to be increasingly sure about ending her life.
Bullying refers to all the forms of aggressive, verbal or physical, intentional and repetitive attitudes that occur without obvious motivation and are exerted by one or more individuals, causing pain and distress to the victim. Suicide, in some cases, may be the solution found by bullying victims to end their suffering. The World Health Organization (WHO) points to suicide as a social epidemic, responsible for the annual death of 800,000 people - mainly in poor and emerging countries. The occurrence of cases between adolescence is viewed with concern by the health institution, critical of the coping methods adopted in nations where silence is often a recurring strategy to address the issue. Committing the extreme act of mowing one's own Life is, by definition, an individual decision, but the underpinning of circumstances capable of compelling someone to commit suicide should be understood as a collective failure subsidized by both seemingly harmless everyday behavior and omissions from the social and family network. The series thus seeks to discuss the daily actions (or lack thereof) of people who may be harmful to people with mental disorders and suicidal tendencies. The central objective seems to be to provide viewers with a reflection: what kind of consequences are my actions having? Am I aware of the weaknesses of those close to me? Do I know how to deal with these weaknesses?

DEBATE ABOUT THE MATTER: “GOOD OR BAD”?
Much has been discussed about whether or not to see the series, whether or not to talk about suicide. On social networks, we see divided opinions on the subject: On the one hand, people are feeling understood by the fact that the series talks about something that has happened and happens in their own lives and that it is difficult to talk; On the other hand, there are people recommending that the show not be seen, as it can encourage young people to do something they have not yet had the courage to do.
The show has a very heavy content that can trigger triggers for people with instability. emotional. It has strong scenes, including that of the protagonist's suicide. Studies state that exposure to such content may increase the number of similar cases. On the other hand, 13 reasons why was very happy to address the issue of bullying and aggression and its possible relationship with adolescent suicide. The series clearly demonstrates that there is a difficulty for society to talk about this issue with young people, and that our prevention strategies have not been the best. Thus, it is understood that the content brought in the series can be beneficial and trigger many discussions on the subject, which would be great in terms of suicide prevention. However, it is important for parents and guardians to be aware of the kind of content their children are watching and that they can take the opportunity to dialogue with young people.
Text by Marjana Siqueira and Paula Portugal