**Update April 2019 Since we originally published this blog post, a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found “After accounting for seasonal effects and an underlying increasing trend in monthly suicide rates, the overall suicide rate among 10- to 17-year-olds increased significantly in the month immediately following the release of 13 Reasons Why.”
Teens all over the world are streaming the Netflix series, “13 Reasons Why.” The series, based on the young adult novel by Jay Asher, explores hard issues like online bullying, rape, and suicide. Because youth today so often watch shows alone on their personal devices, it is imperative that we engage and have conversations with our teens about these intense subjects. And, you can set controls on your Netflix account that requires a special password each time your child or teen wants to access content you have restricted. Please see how to do this at the bottom of this blog.
In her essay for Teen Vogue, suicide prevention advocate MollyKate Cline expresses concerns over the series’ lack of mental health dialogue and the main character’s disregard from a trusted adult when she goes for help. Cline sees these situations as potential triggers for vulnerable viewers. Also, the vast majority of people who take their lives are dealing with mental health issues, yet the girl in the series is not shown to be dealing with such issues—instead the premise is that others caused her to do it. For these and many other reasons, it is time for us to talk to our kids—whether they have seen the show or not.
I know that the content makers hope their show will bring awareness and acceptance to these serious subjects, but I have concerns that the show’s graphic portrayal of suicide contributes to its glamorization. How will these realistic interpretations impact youth dealing with real suicidal thoughts?
The increase in actual suicides after a widely publicized incident is real and extremely concerning. Called the Werther Effect, the increase in copycat suicides following an incident publicized without information about alternatives and preventions is based on the 18th-century Goethe novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther. Today, doctors and researchers call this suicide contagion.
A major study that looked at the Werther Effect found that suicide rates decreased when the media offered alternative solutions to suicide. When we hear of stories of people who were emotionally struggling but then found ways out of their darkness—supportive people, therapy, new community involvement, etc— those stories can help so many people. Why don’t we hear more of those stories in the media?
I know as a family member, friend, and doctor that it is hard to have conversations about suicidal thoughts. It is an emotional subject, and so many of us have known people who have tragically taken their lives.
This week I challenge all of us to practice “courageous empathy” by raising issues of mental health and suicidal thoughts—really listening to our teens and asking what they have seen and felt.
** HOW TO SET PARENTAL CONTROLS ON YOUR NETFLIX ACCOUNT:
FROM NETFLIX https://help.netflix.com/en/node/264
1. Account-level (hard controls)
Require a PIN for specific maturity ratings
Require a PIN for specific TV shows or movies
2. Profile-level (soft controls)
Choose a maturity level for a profile
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
As we’re about to celebrate 10 years of Screenagers, we want to hear what’s been most helpful and what you’d like to see next.
Please click here to share your thoughts with us in our community survey. It only takes 5–10 minutes, and everyone who completes it will be entered to win one of five $50 Amazon vouchers.
**Update April 2019 Since we originally published this blog post, a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found “After accounting for seasonal effects and an underlying increasing trend in monthly suicide rates, the overall suicide rate among 10- to 17-year-olds increased significantly in the month immediately following the release of 13 Reasons Why.”
Teens all over the world are streaming the Netflix series, “13 Reasons Why.” The series, based on the young adult novel by Jay Asher, explores hard issues like online bullying, rape, and suicide. Because youth today so often watch shows alone on their personal devices, it is imperative that we engage and have conversations with our teens about these intense subjects. And, you can set controls on your Netflix account that requires a special password each time your child or teen wants to access content you have restricted. Please see how to do this at the bottom of this blog.
In her essay for Teen Vogue, suicide prevention advocate MollyKate Cline expresses concerns over the series’ lack of mental health dialogue and the main character’s disregard from a trusted adult when she goes for help. Cline sees these situations as potential triggers for vulnerable viewers. Also, the vast majority of people who take their lives are dealing with mental health issues, yet the girl in the series is not shown to be dealing with such issues—instead the premise is that others caused her to do it. For these and many other reasons, it is time for us to talk to our kids—whether they have seen the show or not.
I know that the content makers hope their show will bring awareness and acceptance to these serious subjects, but I have concerns that the show’s graphic portrayal of suicide contributes to its glamorization. How will these realistic interpretations impact youth dealing with real suicidal thoughts?
The increase in actual suicides after a widely publicized incident is real and extremely concerning. Called the Werther Effect, the increase in copycat suicides following an incident publicized without information about alternatives and preventions is based on the 18th-century Goethe novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther. Today, doctors and researchers call this suicide contagion.
A major study that looked at the Werther Effect found that suicide rates decreased when the media offered alternative solutions to suicide. When we hear of stories of people who were emotionally struggling but then found ways out of their darkness—supportive people, therapy, new community involvement, etc— those stories can help so many people. Why don’t we hear more of those stories in the media?
I know as a family member, friend, and doctor that it is hard to have conversations about suicidal thoughts. It is an emotional subject, and so many of us have known people who have tragically taken their lives.
This week I challenge all of us to practice “courageous empathy” by raising issues of mental health and suicidal thoughts—really listening to our teens and asking what they have seen and felt.
** HOW TO SET PARENTAL CONTROLS ON YOUR NETFLIX ACCOUNT:
FROM NETFLIX https://help.netflix.com/en/node/264
1. Account-level (hard controls)
Require a PIN for specific maturity ratings
Require a PIN for specific TV shows or movies
2. Profile-level (soft controls)
Choose a maturity level for a profile
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
Sign up here to receive the weekly Tech Talk Tuesdays newsletter from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD.
We respect your privacy.
**Update April 2019 Since we originally published this blog post, a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found “After accounting for seasonal effects and an underlying increasing trend in monthly suicide rates, the overall suicide rate among 10- to 17-year-olds increased significantly in the month immediately following the release of 13 Reasons Why.”
Teens all over the world are streaming the Netflix series, “13 Reasons Why.” The series, based on the young adult novel by Jay Asher, explores hard issues like online bullying, rape, and suicide. Because youth today so often watch shows alone on their personal devices, it is imperative that we engage and have conversations with our teens about these intense subjects. And, you can set controls on your Netflix account that requires a special password each time your child or teen wants to access content you have restricted. Please see how to do this at the bottom of this blog.
In her essay for Teen Vogue, suicide prevention advocate MollyKate Cline expresses concerns over the series’ lack of mental health dialogue and the main character’s disregard from a trusted adult when she goes for help. Cline sees these situations as potential triggers for vulnerable viewers. Also, the vast majority of people who take their lives are dealing with mental health issues, yet the girl in the series is not shown to be dealing with such issues—instead the premise is that others caused her to do it. For these and many other reasons, it is time for us to talk to our kids—whether they have seen the show or not.
I know that the content makers hope their show will bring awareness and acceptance to these serious subjects, but I have concerns that the show’s graphic portrayal of suicide contributes to its glamorization. How will these realistic interpretations impact youth dealing with real suicidal thoughts?
The increase in actual suicides after a widely publicized incident is real and extremely concerning. Called the Werther Effect, the increase in copycat suicides following an incident publicized without information about alternatives and preventions is based on the 18th-century Goethe novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther. Today, doctors and researchers call this suicide contagion.
A major study that looked at the Werther Effect found that suicide rates decreased when the media offered alternative solutions to suicide. When we hear of stories of people who were emotionally struggling but then found ways out of their darkness—supportive people, therapy, new community involvement, etc— those stories can help so many people. Why don’t we hear more of those stories in the media?
I know as a family member, friend, and doctor that it is hard to have conversations about suicidal thoughts. It is an emotional subject, and so many of us have known people who have tragically taken their lives.
This week I challenge all of us to practice “courageous empathy” by raising issues of mental health and suicidal thoughts—really listening to our teens and asking what they have seen and felt.
** HOW TO SET PARENTAL CONTROLS ON YOUR NETFLIX ACCOUNT:
FROM NETFLIX https://help.netflix.com/en/node/264
1. Account-level (hard controls)
Require a PIN for specific maturity ratings
Require a PIN for specific TV shows or movies
2. Profile-level (soft controls)
Choose a maturity level for a profile
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
Many adults keep their phones by the bed — it feels harmless, even necessary. But what if that habit is quietly affecting our sleep and the example we set for our kids? In this week’s blog, Dr. Ruston shares two key things every parent should know about sleeping next to a phone, and how small nighttime tech changes can make a big difference for the whole family.
READ MORE >
From Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto to violence and gunfire in movies and shows, aggression is a constant backdrop in boys’ media diets. And with various influencers and online personalities framing success through the lens of strength, competition, dominance and winning, boys are being handed a narrow script for masculinity. As parents, one of the most important things we can do is offer a counterweight. We can help boys strengthen empathy, compassion, and respect as core traits of masculinity, so they have a broader, healthier vision of who they can become.
READ MORE >
Last week we introduced you to our Screen-Free Sleep campaign! Since then, we’ve been flooded with emails and calls, and most are asking the same question: How can we get this spreading in our school? Today’s blog has the answers.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
