Summary: The Netflix series 13 Reasons Why has been associated with an increase in suicide deaths among U.S. adolescents. Researchers found a significant rise within three months of the show’s release, particularly among girls aged 10–19.
Source: Medical University of Vienna
Study findings
Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna’s Suicide Research & Mental Health Promotion unit, together with international colleagues, report a notable increase in youth suicides following the release of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. The study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, analyzed monthly suicide counts in the United States from 1999 through 2017 and identified an elevation in deaths among 10- to 19-year-olds in the three months after the show debuted.
In numerical terms, the team estimates a roughly 13% increase in suicides for the 10–19 age group during the three-month period after release, representing about 94 additional deaths compared with expected counts. Whereas the typical three-month total for that age group nationwide is around 720 deaths, the observed number exceeded 800 in the period tied to the show’s release.
Gender differences and method
While other research has pointed to an overall rise in youth suicides following the show, the Vienna-led analysis found that the increase was proportionally greater among females than males, a pattern the authors note is consistent with the series’ female protagonist. The research team also observed a substantial relative increase in suicides by hanging among young people during this time frame.
How the study was done
The study used U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mortality data to create time series models for three age groups (10–19, 20–29, and 30+ years) covering January 1999 through December 2017. The authors compared observed suicide counts after the show’s release with forecasts based on pre-release trends. Social media activity on platforms such as Twitter and Instagram was used as a proxy to identify when public attention to the show was highest — primarily April through June 2017 — and models were fitted to test changes in monthly suicide counts and methods during that period.
Interpretation and caution
The investigators emphasize caution in interpreting the results. However, they note that the age-limited increase and the stronger signal among young females are consistent with media contagion effects described in the scientific literature. The study does not prove causation, but the temporal association and demographic pattern raise concerns about how fictional portrayals of suicide may influence vulnerable audiences.
Portrayal matters: what the researchers recommend
The Vienna team stresses that discussing suicide in media is important and can help reduce stigma, but how the topic is depicted is crucial. In this case, they argue, the series presented everyday social struggles as hopeless and linked them repeatedly to suicide without showing effective sources of help. The researchers and partner organizations warned soon after the show’s release that such portrayals risk creating the false impression that help is ineffective or unavailable.
To reduce harm, the authors and national prevention groups recommend clearer depiction of alternatives and resources: highlight that professional help can restore control, that recovery is possible, and that there are concrete ways to seek support. They advise parents, teachers, clinicians and youth workers to talk proactively about media consumption, ask young people what they are watching and how it affects them, listen without judgment, and encourage help-seeking when needed.
Resources for schools and families
In Austria, researchers and the national suicide prevention society prepared guidance for educators and families on how to address the show in school settings and to use it as a model for discussing other media portrayals of suicide. The guidance recommends structured conversations that acknowledge emotions, validate distress, and point to local and professional sources of help.
Call for collaboration with the entertainment industry
Co-authors of the study urge the entertainment industry to work closely with suicide prevention experts when portraying suicidal behavior. Responsible depiction can help destigmatize the topic without increasing risk among vulnerable viewers. Greater collaboration could improve scripts, viewer advisories, and signposting to resources, reducing the likelihood of harmful contagion effects.
Source: Medical University of Vienna
Study: The reported analysis is described in a study examining the association between the release of 13 Reasons Why and changes in youth suicide counts in the United States. The authors used long-term national mortality data and time series methods to compare observed deaths with expected values, focusing particularly on April–June 2017 when public attention to the show was highest.
Conclusion
The study highlights the potential for fictional media to influence real-world behavior among adolescents and underscores the importance of careful, evidence-informed portrayals of suicide. Open conversations about media use, visible pathways to help, and collaboration between creators and prevention experts are essential steps to reduce risk while allowing important mental health topics to be addressed in public discourse.