13 Reasons Why: Mental health experts don’t want Netflix show banned

IT is the TV series that exposes teens to suicide, male rape and school shootings. But mental health experts say banning Netflix series 13 Reasons Why would be a terrible mistake.

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MENTAL health experts warn ­banning the teen suicide television show 13 Reasons Why would be a ­terrible mistake, even as they brace for an ­expected surge in calls for help this weekend.

­Based on the experience from the first season of the Netflix show, two weeks after the show is released is when most people finish watching it and begin asking for help, which makes this weekend crunch time for the second season.

That is particularly true in light of a hugely controversial final episode, which features male rape and a threatened school shooting.

Aussie actress Katherine Langford as Hannah Baker in 13 Reasons Why.

The influential American Parents Television Council, several British newspapers and multiple reviewers have called for Netflix to take it off air, as well as ending any plans to screen a third season.

There are six different petitions on change.org calling for it to be banned. But experts disagree

“Young people would still find a way to watch the show,” Headspace senior clinical adviser Nick Duigan said.

“But they would be more likely to conceal it, keep it secret and hidden — and less likely to seek that support.

“A blanket ban doesn’t give people the opportunity to make an informed decision.”

Mr Duigan said there were “clear and specific concerns” with the series. But it does create the possibility for “more open conversations” between parents and teenagers.

“It could be that deciding not to watch it could be the best decision. In an ideal world, we would be able to have these difficult conversations without the need for a traumatic television show,” he said.

Mental health experts say banning the show 13 Reasons Why, starring Dylan Minnette and Katherine Langford, is a bad idea.

Mindframe program manager Marc Bryant said: “Making calls to ban … without a measured response may cause oral   panic   and   miss an opportunity to have an informed debate.” However, he said it is “OK not to watch” if the subject matter is distressing to you.

“The second series does not have explicit content regarding suicide and self-harm, so that shows Netflix listened to our concerns from the first series, which has reduced risk considerably,” he said.

“The added safety measures … allows viewers to access this series and encourage safe conversations.”

Netflix directed The Sunday Telegraph to a blog by Netflix executive Brian Wright outlining the resources available to viewers, as well as a statement by showrunner Brian Yorkey.

“We believe that talking about it is so much better than silence,” he said.

REVIEW

THE second season of 13 Reasons Why takes a while to get going but actually has some strong points to say.

13 Reasons Why has a real message to project, Duncan Lay writes.

Many of these clear up accusations against the first series and make it clear that things are too late for Hannah Baker but others (ie real people) going through the same situation can find help.

It also delivers some real messages, calling on teens to ask for help and to talk about their problems. It takes until about episode eight for these messages to really heat up.

The second season throws plenty at us — the court case as Hannah’s parents sue the school as well as a mystery of who is trying to help Clay prove Bryce is a rapist.

As a premise, it’s a little underwhelming. Then there is the rewriting of some of the central tenets of the first season. The S2 view of Hannah’s relationship with Zach, for instance, is so irritating it made my teeth hurt.

There are some powerful moments — Jessica, as a young black woman, is afraid nobody will believe her word against that of Bryce, the rich white sports star.

Some episodes drag a bit, while you may feel the need to skip through some parts. Above all, teens watching it need to have it put into context by adults.