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Towards the Influence of Media on Suicidality: A Systematic Review of Netflix’s ‘Thirteen Reasons Why’

Author

Listed:
  • Martí Guinovart

    (Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí, 1 Parc Taulí, 08208 Sabadell, Spain
    Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 3-5 Calle Monforte de Lemos, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Plaça Cívica, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain)

  • Jesús Cobo

    (Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí, 1 Parc Taulí, 08208 Sabadell, Spain
    Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 3-5 Calle Monforte de Lemos, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Plaça Cívica, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain)

  • Alexandre González-Rodríguez

    (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 3-5 Calle Monforte de Lemos, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Mútua de Terrassa, 5 Plaça del Doctor Robert, 08221 Terrassa, Spain
    Department of Psychiatry, University of Barcelona, 585 Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 08007 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Isabel Parra-Uribe

    (Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí, 1 Parc Taulí, 08208 Sabadell, Spain
    Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 3-5 Calle Monforte de Lemos, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Plaça Cívica, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain)

  • Diego Palao

    (Department of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí, 1 Parc Taulí, 08208 Sabadell, Spain
    Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 3-5 Calle Monforte de Lemos, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Plaça Cívica, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain)

Abstract

Online streaming series ‘Thirteen Reasons Why’ (13RW), released in March 2017, was criticized for its sensationalist portrayal of the main character’s suicide, leading some people to voice fears of a global contagion of self-harm behaviors. The current investigation provides a systematic review of original studies analyzing the role of 13RW as an influencing factor for suicide. Articles were identified through a systematic search of Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, and a manual search of reference lists from inception until the 16 January 2023. Twenty-seven published articles were identified from an initial search of 496 studies. The positive effects of watching 13RW included a reduction in suicide stigma and a greater likelihood to discuss mental health concerns and seek for help. However, several studies reported negative outcomes, including significant increases in the rate of deaths by suicide in adolescents, the number of admissions for suicidal reasons, and the prevalence and severity of suicidal ideation and self-harm behaviors in vulnerable viewers. Still, due to methodological limitations, no causal relationship could be established. Preventive measures are required to alert of the risk and should be particularly addressed to susceptible subjects. Psychoeducational programs should be focused on this kind of phenomena in vulnerable populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Martí Guinovart & Jesús Cobo & Alexandre González-Rodríguez & Isabel Parra-Uribe & Diego Palao, 2023. "Towards the Influence of Media on Suicidality: A Systematic Review of Netflix’s ‘Thirteen Reasons Why’," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-25, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:7:p:5270-:d:1108337
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jeffrey A Bridge & Joel B Greenhouse & Kelly J Kelleher & John V Campo, 2020. "Formal Comment: Romer study fails at following core principles of reanalysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-3, November.
    2. Jan Domaradzki, 2021. "The Werther Effect, the Papageno Effect or No Effect? A Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Arendt, Florian & Scherr, Sebastian & Pasek, Josh & Jamieson, Patrick E. & Romer, Daniel, 2019. "Investigating harmful and helpful effects of watching season 2 of 13 Reasons Why: Results of a two-wave U.S. panel survey," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 489-498.
    4. Hua Wang & Joseph Woelfel, 2022. "Netflix series 13 reasons why as compound suicide messages: using the Galileo model for cognitive mapping and precise measurements," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 751-768, April.
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