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Parent Resources for "13 Reasons Why"

May 12, 2017
By Victoria Caron

In our Catholic, Jesuit mission of educating the whole person, cura personalis, we are writing to bring to your attention a recently released Netflix series called 13 Reasons Why. The production is about a teenage girl who dies by suicide and leaves behind 13 cassette tapes for each of the 13 people she blames for her death.

The publicized intent of the directors/producers of the series is educational messaging on the topics of suicide, sexual assault, bullying, and substance abuse, however, the series -- which many teenagers are binge watching without adult guidance and support -- is raising concerns from suicide prevention experts about the potential risks posed by the sensationalized treatment of youth suicide.  Children and youth who view this series will need supportive adults to help them process it.

We recognize that many of our students may have watched the Netflix series. As parents, you may be wondering how best to start a conversation with your child about these difficult topics or you may be worried about your own child and their mental health.  The resources listed below are intended to be a starting point for what we hope will be a conversation with your child.