Edison Schools Warn About Teen Suicide Netflix Series '13 Reasons'

EDISON, NJ - Following in the footsteps of Montclair, Westfield and Verona, the principal of John P. Stevens High School in Edison sent an email to all parents Thursday warning them about a new Netflix series, "13 Reasons Why." While J.P. Stevens principal Gail Pawlikowski doesn't explicitly ask parents not to let their kids watch the show, she does warn that the drama "is sending some misleading messages regarding bullying and ways to cope with depression, anxiety and stress, which many of our teens may find relatable."

Released to Netflix on March 31, "13 Reasons Why" tells the story of a young teenage girl who commits suicide and then leaves behind multiple cassette tapes that explain why she did it. It is based on a fictional young adult novel. However, the show can be dangerous for teens because it is graphic and can trigger past behavior or suicidal thoughts, the Edison high school principal wrote.

"Some scenes are very graphic and can be troubling or triggering for some students to watch," Pawlikowski said. "Because of the provocative nature of the series, it may affect students who are identifying with these strong emotions. Unfortunately, the show does not discuss resources that are available for students who are struggling with these issues."

Edison is not alone in being concerned about the Netflix series. On Monday, Montclair public schools sent a letter home to parents, warning them the show. As Patch has reported, Westfield and Verona school districts have done the same.

“As a parent and educator, I have serious concerns about the nature of '13 Reasons Why' and the message it sends our children," Verona Schools Superintendent Rui Dionisio said this week.

The National Association of School Psychologists also issued this warning about the series, which was just renewed for a second season. They are recommending that vulnerable youth not watch the show. "13 Reasons Why" was produced by Selena Gomez.

Pawlikowski also gave parents a list of talking points to discuss with teens if they would like to talk about the show. She also said guidance counselors are standing by at JP Stevens to talk to teens about suicide. She writes:

"In the series, the school counselor is not portrayed as being helpful to the teen."