In my last article, I discussed the concept of modus vivendi and how it plays a significant role in the rise of suicides and suicide attempts among the younger generation in particular. However, that is only one of two main reasons to explain the rise of the phenomenon.
This week, I will be focusing on the other culprit: media.
Yes, there are many aspects of media, which have contributed to the decrease in suicides among people around the world.
I’m referring to little public service announcements across TV channels and magazines, and articles in newspapers encouraging troubled souls to come forward and get help. It definitely reaches out to those in need of emotional and mental support to prevent unpleasant outcomes.
That being said, there is one small part of media, particularly the entertainment industry, which may have unintended effects on those who are feeling suicidal.
Recently, Netflix released a new TV show titled 13 Reasons Why, and youngsters around the world went ballistic.
The 13-episode series centres around Hannah Baker who commits suicide after encountering various failures and disappointments, which are mainly caused by a number of people in her life. However, before she commits the act, she records some audio cassette tapes to explain how these people have contributed to her decision to end her life.
The tapes are played one by one in each episode by her best friend and love interest, Clay Jensen, who is still trying to find the reason behind her sudden death.
The show is clearly targeted at the teen/young adult group, which is probably the reason why (pun not intended) I wasn’t even aware of the existence of the show until one day when I saw a Facebook status update from one of my students.
She seemed very down, and expressed how much she related to Baker and had since started “feeling all the feels” after watching a few episodes of the show.
That was when I started getting worried.
This show is intended to help those who are feeling suicidal, and serves as a reminder that suicide is never the solution for any problems one might face. It is clearly nothing, but a form of bitter revenge which will negatively affect those left behind.
I understand that the creators of this show must have had good intentions when they were creating it in the first place.
Depression and having suicidal tendencies are medical issues that cannot be taken lightly, and I get that having TV shows that reach out to youngsters who are the most prone to these things may be an effective way to create awareness.
However, many youngsters out there are beginning to feel that they should do what Baker did because it can be the answer to their problems.
There are many who might disagree with me here, but I feel that shows like 13 Reasons Why simply glorify and glamorise suicide. Mental health organisation Headspace has condemned the show for “risky, distressing and irresponsible portrayal of suicide”.
Recently, The National Association of School Psychologists published a report stating that the show was causing viewers to romanticise suicides and develop revenge fantasies.
I am not referring to those who are mature enough and possess the sense and wisdom to not see suicide as an answer to our issues.
We would be able to watch shows like 13 Reasons Why and shake our heads in despair, and wish that people like Baker have the chance to talk things out, instead of looking for the easy way out.
I am referring to those who do not possess the maturity and sensibility to discern what’s right from wrong.
These people will watch shows like this and feel that they can relate to Baker. They might feel unloved and unwanted just like Baker, and seeing how people are giving her recognition following her suicide, might make these youngsters do the same. They see it as a way to solve their problems.
It is a noble act to try to reach out to those in need of help, but when it backfires, it may cause a lot more harm than initially intended.
The writer, Ashley Greig is a lecturer at Sunway College, a Malaysian-born Eurasian with Scottish/Japanese/Indian lineage. She believes in a tomorrow where there is no existence of racism and hatred