13 Reasons Why

13 Reasons Why is streaming on Netflix. Here's some information about the series and how to get support if you need it.

13 Reasons Why explores issues many young people face, such as suicide and suicide bereavement, sexual violence, drug-use, bullying, domestic violence and peer pressure. The third season is now available for viewing.

The shows have been extremely popular, but graphic scenes and exploration of heavy issues in Season 1 left some viewers feeling distressed and in need of support. Season 2 had a similar affect.

The Chief Censor has rated it RP18: Contains rape, suicide themes, drug use and bullying.

If you need urgent support or are worried about someone please reach out for help.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call your DHB Mental Health Crisis Team or go to your nearest Emergency Department (ED).

If there is immediate danger, call 111.

What is 13 Reasons Why?

13 Reasons Why is a television show, available on Netflix.com. All three seasons are now available for viewing and subscribers can watch them at any time.

The show takes place after the suicide of 17-year-old Hannah Baker, and explores the ‘reasons why’ she may have taken her life. When Season 1 was released in March 2017 it quickly became Netflix’s most talked about show.

Season 2 featured a trial between Hannah’s parents and her school, trying to discover who is most to blame for Hannah’s death.  Season 3 is about the suspected murder of a school student.

If you’re affected by watching 13 Reasons Why

Know you're not alone. The show is designed to have an effect on viewers, and many people find it distressing, confronting or triggers emotions. You may feel ashamed or embarrassed but please talk to someone about how you’re feeling. You deserve to be heard and you deserve support.

Tips for supporting viewers

FAQs

13 Reasons Why takes place after the suicide of 17-year-old Hannah Baker, and explores the ‘reasons why’ she may have taken her life. When Season 1 was released in March 2017 it quickly became Netflix’s most talked about show.

Specific issues

Information and resources for specific issues, such as suicide prevention, suicide loss, rape and sexual assault, unhealthy relationships, bullying, and drug and alcohol use.

Suicide prevention

If you’re having thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. Lots of us have thought about killing ourselves and have found a way through. If you experience suicidal thoughts, 13 Reasons Why may be very distressing or triggering for you. This is understandable and you deserve help.

Talk to someone you trust (like a counsellor, kaumatua, friend or parent) or call a helpline such as Youthline (free call 0800 376 633/free text 234/email talk@youthline.co.nz) or Need to Talk? (free call or text 1737 to talk with a trained counsellor).

Most people who attempt suicide don’t want to die – they just want their pain to end or can't see another way out of their situation. Support from people who care about them, and connection with their own sense of culture, identity and purpose, can help them to find a way through.

Suicide bereavement

Both seasons of 13 Reasons Why show Hannah's friends and family struggling to cope with her death.

Losing someone to suicide can be especially hard to cope with. It’s sudden and shocking, and often leaves people with questions they cannot answer. If you have lost someone to suicide, watching 13 Reasons Why may bring up painful or difficult memories and feelings.

Rape and sexual assault

13 Reasons Why contain graphic and confronting scenes of rape and sexual assault. Most forms of sexual violence are shown, including rape, rape threats, sexual harassment, sexual bullying, sharing unwanted sexual images and coercion.

The characters who experience sexual violence do not consent or are unable to consent. As is the case with 90% of cases of sexual violence in New Zealand, the characters who are raped or sexually assaulted know their attackers.

These scenes may be traumatising to viewers who have been raped or sexually assaulted. Many viewers will know what it’s like to experience slut-shaming, abuse, harassment and even rape, and watching the show may bring up difficult memories or feelings. If you’re affected by the issues or are supporting someone who is, these following links may be useful:

Unhealthy relationships

Some of the romantic relationships in 13 Reasons Why (such as Bryce and Chloe’s relationship) are unhealthy. Unhealthy relationships can be very damaging and are sometimes dangerous. Often they involve a power imbalance and the use of threats, intimidation, violence and name-calling. People in unhealthy relationships often find it difficult to trust each other or resolve conflicts respectfully and constructively.

While watching 13 Reasons Why, you may have recognised the signs of an unhealthy relationship and wondered if a relationship in your life may be unhealthy. Help is available for you.

Bullying

In 13 Reasons Why, bullying is shown to be relatively common and extremely harmful. New Zealand has the highest rate of bullying in schools in the developed world. Unfortunately, many people still think bullying is just a normal part of growing up, but that’s not true. It is never okay and can have long-term impacts on both the person doing the bullying and the person being bullied.

Young people who are bullied are more likely to develop mental health issues that may lead to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Young people who bully others are more likely to drop out of school or perform worse academically.

If you’re being bullied or have been bullied, watching 13 Reasons Why may have made you feel uncomfortable, sad or angry, or brought up upsetting memories or feelings.

As with other issues, 13 Reasons Why gives us the opportunity to talk to young people about their own experiences of bullying – does it take place at their school? Have they experienced it? Witnessed it? Could their own behaviour be seen as bullying?

Drug and alcohol use

13 Reasons Why shows young people using drugs and alcohol in a number of ways and for a number of reasons. In New Zealand, young people do use drugs and alcohol but numbers are declining. However, figures from the Drug Foundation show that 11% of secondary school students still use substances at a level that is likely to cause them significant harm.

Overview

The Series 3 overview will appear shortly. The following overview of Season 2 was created by the Office of Film and Literature Classification and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. It is rated RP18: Contains rape, suicide themes, drug use, and bullying. Note this overview comes with a SPOILER ALERT.


(Note: PARENTS NEED TO KNOW: There is a graphic and brutal anal rape scene of a male character with a mop handle in Episode 13.)

Season 2 takes place five months after Hannah Baker’s suicide. In the time between the end of season 1 and the beginning of season 2, Alex has recovered from his suicide attempt and is about to come back to school. Jessica is also ready to return to school after taking some time off to try and recover from the trauma of being raped.

Hannah’s parents, Olivia and Andy, have refused to come to a settlement with the school as they believe the school failed to keep Hannah safe and was ultimately responsible for Hannah’s suicide. The first twelve episodes are narrated by different witnesses – Hannah’s friends, parents, teachers and Bryce, the boy who raped her.

The series features graphic flashbacks and retellings of both Hannah and Jessica being raped by Bryce. There is also a new, brutal and graphic sexual assault against Tyler by three members of the baseball team.

The impact of Hannah’s suicide is widely felt by those she left behind. Hannah herself returns and only Clay can see her. She encourages him to ensure Bryce is punished for what he’s done.

Hannah’s story is further explored by her friends who offer different perspectives to the events Hannah talks about in her tapes.

The show explores issues like bullying, suicide, self-harm, drug use, sexual assault and rape.

Adults are largely shown to be ineffective or actively unhelpful when young people are dealing with challenging issues. The young characters in the series often feel they have to take matters of punishment and justice into their own hands.

The series finishes with Tyler, who was raped by his schoolmates, attempting a school shooting. Clay persuades him to put the gun down and Tony helps Tyler escape. Clay is left holding an automatic weapon.

Discussion guide

Season 3 of 13 Reasons Why has been released on Netflix. It is rated RP18: Contains rape, suicide themes, drug use, and bullying. The discussion guide below was created by the Office of Film and Literature Classification and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. This guide comes with a SPOILER ALERT.

The following questions relate to Season 2. We know that the themes discussed are still relevant and for some people, they will be revisiting Season 1 and Season 2 for the first time.

Episode recaps

These recaps of Season 2 were created by the Office of Film and Literature Classification and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. It is rated RP18: Contains rape, suicide themes, drug use, and bullying. Note these recaps come with a SPOILER ALERT.

(Note: PARENTS NEED TO KNOW: There is a graphic and brutal anal rape scene of a male character with a mop handle in Episode 13.)