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May 4th, 2017
Frequently Asked Questions – 13 Reasons Why, provided by School Mental Health ASSIST – May 4, 2017
Netflix recently released the series 13 Reasons Why based on the popular young adult novel of the same name by Jay Asher. The series depicts the story of a high school student who dies by suicide, leaving behind 13 cassette recordings that share the events that she perceives led to her death. Series like this one can lead to misconceptions and misinformation about suicide, and possibly to the glorification of suicide.
For these reasons, mental health professionals, including the Waterloo Region District School Board’s mental health team, feel it is necessary to make you aware of this series. The WRDSB is providing the following tips, distributed by School Mental Health (SMH) ASSIST and National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), to help with conversations you may have with your child:
“We recommend that you ask your child if they have heard or seen the series 13 Reasons Why. If your child insists on watching the series, we encourage them to watch with parents and caregivers. This will provide an opportunity to discuss the show and their thoughts,” said Peter Rubenschuh, superintendent of student achievement and well-being. “We will continue to do everything we can to support student mental health and well-being.”
If students raise questions about the series, WRDSB staff will address the content in ways that are sensitive and appropriate, especially with our most vulnerable students. For additional information, visit Preventing Youth Suicide Brief Facts and Preventing Youth Suicide: Tips or Parents and Educators.
As always, if you have individual concerns about your child related to mental health, or need additional resources, please contact your child’s school.
This information expires once printed. Please always refer to the online version for the most current information.