Netflix has removed a controversial graphic suicide scene from season one of the hit show 13 Reasons Why, which has completed two seasons of 26 episodes.
Netflix says the decision had been made “on the advice of medical experts“.
Based on the 2007 novel by Jay Asher, 13 Reasons Why tells the story of a high school student who finds out why his friend killed herself through a box of cassette tapes she recorded before her death.
While praised for raising issues such as bullying and self-harm, the show had come under criticism from schools and psychologists worried it could trigger copycat suicides among young people struggling with mental health issues.
“As we prepare to launch season three later this summer, we’ve been mindful about the ongoing debate around the show,” Netflix says on Twitter late Monday.
“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 to edit the scene in which Hannah takes her own life from season one.”
An update on 13 Reasons Why
If you or someone you know needs help finding crisis resources please visit https://t.co/cNtjtuNG1p pic.twitter.com/SxGjbYpZF6
— Netflix US (@netflix) July 16, 2019
Producer Yorkey said the graphic suicide scene was intended to show “the horror of such an act, and make sure no one would ever wish to emulate 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,” he says in a statement on Twitter.
“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.”
Netflix said the show had encouraged discussion about mental health issues.
“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,” it says.
Two studies published in May found that suicides among US youths rose significantly in the months following the popular show’s release.
A study commissioned by Netflix and carried out by Northwestern University last year found that a majority of teens said the show helped them understand depression better and empathise with victims of bullying.
