Netflix edits graphic suicide scene from first season of its popular show '13 Reasons Why'

Netflix has removed the graphic suicide scene from the first season of its popular, but controversial show "13 Reasons Why," two years after it was released and a few months after a study linked the show with a spike in teen suicides.

Early Tuesday morning, ahead of the release of the show's third season, Netflix issued this statement on Twitter:

"We've heard from many young people that '13 Reasons Why' encouraged them to start conversations about difficult issues like depression and suicide and get help—often for the first time. As we prepare to launch Season 3 later this summer, we've been mindful about the ongoing debate around the show. So on the advice of medical experts, including Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, we've decided with creator Brian Yorkey and the producers of '13 Reasons Why' to edit the scene in which Hannah takes her own life from Season 1."

Yorkey also released a statement on the show's Twitter account.

"It was our hope, in making '13 Reasons Why' into a television show, to tell a story that would help young viewers feel see and heard, and encourage empathy in all who viewed it, much as the bestselling book did before us. Our creative intent in portraying the ugly, painful reality of suicide in such graphic detail in Season 1 was to tell the truth about the horror of such an act, and make sure no one would ever wish to emulate it. But as we ready to launch Season 3, we have heard concerns about the scene from Dr. Christine Moutier at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevent and others, and have agreed with Netflix to re-edit it. No one scene is more important than the life of the show, and its message that we must take better care of each other. We believe this edit will help the show do the most good for the most people while mitigating any risk for especially vulnerable young viewers."

The show is based on the young adult novel of the same name and tells the story of a fictional high school girl who dies by suicide after sending cassette tapes to classmates detailing the 13 reasons behind her decision.

Soon after its release, mental health and suicide prevention experts criticized the show, especially its graphic depiction of suicide and the fact that it highlighted few resources for teens and others who may be struggling with depression or trauma or may have experience with previous suicidal behavior.

After the first season and before the second season was released, Wake County Public School System joined school districts across the country when it released statements to warn parents about the show and talk about it with their kids.

"This miniseries attempts to address many topics that can lead to important conversations with students, such as bullying, cyber-bullying, assault, rape, and suicide," Wake schools officials wrote before the second season was released. "However, aspects of the miniseries have gone against the recommendations of mental health professionals and suicide prevention models."

And those concerns from mental health professionals and school officials may not be off track. According to one study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in summer 2017, the first season led to more awareness about suicide, but also more suicidal thoughts or suicide ideation as online searches for terms such as "how to kill yourself" increased.

The number of deaths by suicide recorded in April 2017 was greater than the number seen in any single month during the five-year period examined by the researchers, according to a press release about the study. Researchers found the increase in the suicide rate was primarily driven by significant increases in suicide in young males, the release said. Suicide rates in females increased, but the rate wasn't considered "statistically significant."

"The results of this study should raise awareness that young people are particularly vulnerable to the media," said study author Lisa Horowitz, a clinical scientist in the NIMH Intramural Research Program, in the release. "All disciplines, including the media, need to take good care to be constructive and thoughtful about topics that intersect with public health crises."

Scenes like the graphic suicide in "13 Reasons Why" can be particularly troubling for teens, who are more likely to be prone to suicide contagions.

Teens' brains, after all, are not yet fully formed. Anybody who has been around a teen knows that they often are struggling to manage their emotions, Kathryn Falbo-Woodson, a clinical social worker and president of the board of directors of the N.C. chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, said in an interview with Go Ask Mom last year. They can act rashly.

"They see this type of show, unregulated without some kind of supervision, and they think, 'If that person can do it, I wonder if I can do it,'" Falbo-Woodson said.