Netflix says season 2 of controversial series 13 Reasons Why will come with warnings before each episode. Photo / AP
In the wake of one of the most controversial and talked-about television shows of last year, one teenager decided to recreate it.
She sat down at a microphone and made an announcement to her whole school, which began exactly like the tapes in which 13 Reasons Why's main character explains her suicide.
"Hey, it's Riley, Riley Juntti," she said to her shocked classmates. "Don't adjust whatever device you're hearing this on. It's me, live and in stereo."
Riley revealed how she became trapped in an abusive relationship, friends deserted her and she began thinking about suicide. "I was dating a very popular athlete, I starting dating him when I was 16, he was two years older," she said. "About a year into the relationship, it became very belittling and abusive, physically and emotionally, and then eventually, he said he wanted me dead at a graduation party and not one single person stood up for me."
Riley had struggled with mental illness for some time, and this was the "final straw". Her reaction was much like that of Hannah Baker in 13 Reasons Why. "I chopped all my hair off and dyed it black, started dressing differently, quit volleyball."
But Riley's story ended differently to that of the 13 Reasons protagonist. Riley finished her PA speech by talking about an acquaintance from her Biology class, who had always smiled and said hello. "You are one of my 13 reasons why not," she said.
For the next 13 days, other students at Michigan's Oxford High School shared stories of the worst moments in their lives — from sexual assault to bereavement — and often, the suicidal thoughts that came with those dark times. Then, they each revealed one reason they had found to keep living.
"We felt like the problem with the show was it didn't shine a light enough on what we can actually do and where we can turn to to receive support," Riley told news.com.au. "And we wanted to really reiterate that there's a million reasons not to take your life."
Now 19, she has graduated from high school and the 13 Reasons Why Not project to become a public speaker and mental health advocate. Riley spoke with news.com.au at a Netflix panel examining the research done by the show's creators to make sure the upcoming second season does all it can to support vulnerable young viewers.
The drama was heavily criticised during season one for not better preparing viewers for the content or making it clear where young people dealing with trauma or depression could get help. Reports emerged that Google searches for "suicide" and "how to commit suicide" had spiked during the show.
While the creators of 13 Reasons Why insist they did not make mistakes and were simply tackling a confronting topic, they are heading off similar problems this time around. The cast has recorded a message warning about the themes and where to find help, which will run before each episode. This warning has now been added to all the episodes from season one available on Netflix. In the first season, only two came with advance warnings.
The streaming service is adding crisis resources and a viewing guide at 13ReasonsWhy.Info, and will make new instalments of Beyond the Reasons, an episode in which actors and experts delved into the issues raised, which include assault, substance abuse and mental health problems. This season, the drama will focus on the fallout of losing a loved-one to suicide as well as sexual assault.
Netflix commissioned global research from Northwestern University's Center on Media and Human Development into how teenagers and parents watched the show.
It found that the series enabled conversations between young people and adults around the show's "tough topics", but it also discovered \reactions depended strongly on individual characteristics, including age, resilience and social anxiety.
Teens suffering from high social anxiety, for example, were more likely to agree that the intensity of the show was appropriate for them. However, these same teens also were more inclined to report that the sexual assault scenes were too intense.
"It may be that only a few individuals disagree or are different from the norm based on individual characteristics, but it is important that we consider those individuals who fall outside of the majority when viewing this type of program," said research collaborator Drew Cingel.
The report noted that "these unique characteristics" could affect "how exposure to the show relates to viewer outcomes."
It also observed: "While adolescents were largely not opposed to the intense and graphic nature of some of the content in 13 Reasons Why, parents, adolescents, and young adults thought that the show should provide additional resources and support."
The researchers found that the show increased empathy, with around half of young respondents in Australia/New Zealand talking to someone they believed was struggling with mental health issues or bullying after watching. Forty-five per cent reported that they apologised to another person for the way that they had treated them.
More than two-thirds of parents reported that watching the show prompted them to communicate with their children about difficult topics.
Adolescents and young adults from Brazil and the US were more likely to report changing their attitudes and behaviours as a result of watching 13 Reasons Why, compared to UK and Australian viewers.
But the report notes that both the UK and Australia take a more progressive stance towards addressing the mental health needs of their youth. In Australia, 60 per cent of schools report having a mental health program in place, and 69 per cent provide access to mental health information to their students and in the UK, 90 per cent of educational institutions report providing mental health training to staff, and 87 per cent of state schools offer students mental health information. In the US and Brazil, access is "relatively limited" and depends on local administrative bodies.
The majority of adolescents (73%) in Australia/New Zealand surveyed for this study report that teen life is stressful and many state that anxiety (59%) and depression (56%) during adolescence are prevalent. This was roughly similar across all regions.
More than a third of adolescents and young adults in Australia and New Zealand reported seeking information about the tough topics following exposure.
For Riley, a transformation has taken place. When the show first came along, it followed two suicides in her community, after which there was no school counselling and students were left confused about how to process the tragedies.
After the 13 Reasons Why Not project, hundreds of students began coming forward to say how touched they were to hear their peers — and two staff members — talk about how suicide or trauma had touched their lives. Others left notes and flowers in bathrooms, and several students set up a mental health podcast.
"This is my first year depression free since I was in fifth grade," said Riley. "I didn't talk at school, now I'm a national public speaker."
The adolescent psychology student said she was originally most concerned about what impact 13 Reasons Why would have on middle-schoolers, who "shouldn't have to be exposed" to themes of rape or suicide, as well as vulnerable people.
But for Riley, it was "surreal" to see a show that so closely mirrored her own experiences.
"It was so relatable to teenagers," she said. "I can see how much effort, dedication and soul they've put into the second season to change the dialogue and make it more suitable for viewers. They've been trying a lot harder this time around to get it right."
She says she only wishes we could have reached this point early enough to help the teenagers who took their own lives at her school, as she continues to see their families' hurt.
"You can just still see how much pain they are in, and you can never get a child back once you lose them to suicide."
If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.
Or if you need to talk to someone else:
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (Mon-Fri 1pm to 10pm. Sat-Sun 3pm-10pm)
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• Samaritans 0800 726 666
Dolly Parton will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her charity work.