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13. Our students matter, and we must take every step possible to save their lives. 

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13. Our students matter, and we must take every step possible to save their lives. 

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The national and state suicide rate is climbing. "In 2015, adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 had a suicide rate of 12.5" (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention "Suicide Statistics"). Resources need to be available in order to combat suicide.

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12. Changes are happening, but not soon enough.

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12. Changes are happening, but not soon enough.

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In an article addressing the three Farragut suicides, "3 Farragut High students commit suicide this semester; Knox County Schools sets Thursday meeting," a father of Farragut High School students addresses a letter that was sent home to parents addressing suicide after the third suicide. He said, "the letter was the first communication to parents about suicides from the school district" (Knoxville News Sentinel). Open communication is a resource that needs to be available to the community.

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11. In light of the three suicides at Farragut High School, students need to know how to deal with the loss of someone they know from suicide. 

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11. In light of the three suicides at Farragut High School, students need to know how to deal with the loss of someone they know from suicide. 

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Among the "13 Reasons Why Talking Points," it states "Memorializing someone who died from suicide is not a recommended practice." This is something that is done in the show but should be cautioned against as a matter of policy. The Knox County Board Policy postvention strategies include "Providing counselors to support students, faculty, and staff at the school," and "Providing information on the resources available" (131). Schools need to provide up to date resources on how to deal with suicide.

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10. Students need to know that those affected by suicide loss are often not to blame. 

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10. Students need to know that those affected by suicide loss are often not to blame. 

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"13 Reasons Why Talking Points" is a valuable resource for teachers and students. It says, "Suicide is never the fault of survivors of suicide loss. There are resources and support groups for suicide loss survivors." Students need to be aware of this and not blame themselves and others.

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9. School counselors and other personnel should have more time in their schedules to focus on counseling students and providing resources. 

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9. School counselors and other personnel should have more time in their schedules to focus on counseling students and providing resources. 

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With the push towards high stakes testing, counselors and other school staff often have to devote more and more time towards test preparation and scheduling. According to Valerie Strauss in her article, "How standardized tests are affecting public schools," "School counselors often assist with organization of materials as well as test administration, removing them from tasks such as counseling students."

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8. School administration must provide support after a suicide in order to prevent further suicides. 

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8. School administration must provide support after a suicide in order to prevent further suicides. 

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After the two suicides at Farragut High School this school year, Catherine Miller, a student at Farragut High School, addressed her concern that the administration was not doing enough. She stated, "when Spencer died, our school swept it under the rug. administration did not discuss it with anyone. teachers proceeded with class the next day as if nothing had ever happened. i am hesitant to believe if the situation, or even the topic of suicide and mental illness, was properly discussed we would not have to mourn two of our peers. especially in one semester" ("justice for will and spenser"). After this article was published, another student committed suicide in the same semester from this school. Administration must be an active part of suicide prevention. They too must be a resource.

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7. Suicide does not need to be a taboo topic of discussion. Students and teachers need to disparage myths in order to understand how to help others. 

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7. Suicide does not need to be a taboo topic of discussion. Students and teachers need to disparage myths in order to understand how to help others. 

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Below is a resource from "'13 Reason Why' Netflix Series: Considerations for Educators" by the National Association of School Psychologists

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6. Students, teachers, and the community in general need to be aware of warning signs. 

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6. Students, teachers, and the community in general need to be aware of warning signs. 

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Below is a list of warning signs from the National Association of School Psychologists. According to this website, "Students who feel suicidal are not likely to directly seek help" ("'13 Reason Why' Netflix Series: Considerations for Educators"). Therefore it is necessary for this resource to be available to prevent suicide.

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5. One resource that should be available to students should be discussions with teachers and other qualified school personnel. 

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5. One resource that should be available to students should be discussions with teachers and other qualified school personnel. 

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According to the National Association of School Psychologists, "Engaging in thoughtful conversations with them [students] is vital." Furthermore, "Doing so presents an opportunity to help them process the issues addressed, consider the consequences of certain choices, and reinforce the message that suicide is not a solution to problems and help is available" ("'13 Reason Why' Netflix Series: Considerations for Educators"). Currently Knox County Board Policy dictates "All district employees shall attend an annual 2 hour
in-service training in suicide prevention.The training

shall include, but is not limited to, the identification of risk factors, warning signs, interventions and

response procedures, referrals, and postvention strategies" (129). Two hours does not seem like enough time for educators to be trained and be competent enough to have these types of conversations with students. Personnel should receive more training in order to be an added resource to suicide prevention.

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4. While the show and the book focus on blaming others, schools should call attention to mental illness prevention.

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4. While the show and the book focus on blaming others, schools should call attention to mental illness prevention.

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Dr. Jacobson states Thirteen Reasons Why "focuses on blaming others, as opposed to recognizing that greater than 90 percent of individuals who complete suicide actually struggled with mental illness" ("Thirteen reasons to be concerned about '13 Reasons Why'"). In the novel, Hannah struggles with mental illness. In her tape about Ryan Shaver and her poetry she says "Looking back, I stopped writing in my notebook when I stopped wanting to know myself" (Asher 178). Schools need to confront and raise awareness about mental illness. Resources need to be provided instead of blame.

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3. Students need to know there are other resources available when someone they turn to does not help.

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3. Students need to know there are other resources available when someone they turn to does not help.

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In Thirteen Reason Why, Hannah turns to Mr. Porter, her guidance counselor. He tells her to "consider the possibility of moving beyond this" without providing her with any resources (Asher 278). The National Association of School Psychologists acknowledges that Mr. Porter does not respond correctly. Their recommendations for educators include reinforcing "that school-employed mental health professionals are available to help. Emphasize that the behavior of the second counselor in the series is understood by virtually all school-employed mental health professionals as inappropriate" ("'13 Reason Why' Netflix Series: Considerations for Educators"). Just because one resource is not enough does not mean all are inept. Schools should provide enough resources for students to choose from.

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2. Students have access to media that romanticizes suicide. There is a need for teens to have access to other resources that do not romanticize suicide and give accurate information. 

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2. Students have access to media that romanticizes suicide. There is a need for teens to have access to other resources that do not romanticize suicide and give accurate information. 

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According to Dr. Sansea Jacobson in her article, "Thirteen reasons to be concerned about '13 Reasons Why,'" "The series romanticizes suicide, which places youthful viewers at risk for suicide contagion. We know from research that dramatized portrayals of suicide on television and in movies can lead to increased rates of suicide and suicide attempts using the same methods displayed on the screen. Furthermore, this impact is intensified when suicide is presented in the absence of information about mental illness."

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1. Suicide is a problem, a larger problem than most think. 

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1. Suicide is a problem, a larger problem than most think. 

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According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, "494,169 people visited a hospital for injuries due to self-harm. This number suggests that approximately 12 people harm themselves for every reported death by suicide. Moreover, "On average, there are 121 suicides per day"("Suicide Statistics").

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Thirteen Reasons Why Schools Should Provide More Resources to Prevent Suicide

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Thirteen Reasons Why Schools Should Provide More Resources to Prevent Suicide

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By: Caroline Daugherty
Audience: Knox County School Board