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13 Reasons Why Celebrate "May is Month"

13 Reasons Why - a series

13 Reasons Why became available on Netflix in March and people can’t stop talking about it. The movie was adapted from ’s 2007 Young Adult novel of the same name. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright (Next to Normal) adapted the play for the screen.

13 Reasons depicts a year in the life of a high school junior who kills herself after leaving behind 13 tapes explaining her decision. On the series, each cassette translates to an individual episode during which Hannah discusses a particular person’s impact on her life. As Hanna’s love interest, Clay listens to the tapes, an increasingly haunting tale of , sexual assault, and, eventually is unspooled.

The ways in which it confronts these issues is just as hotly debated. Does it glamorize suicide? Is it too graphic? Or should it be celebrated for its willingness to shake up audiences in the pursuit of honest conversation?

For Yorkey, 13 Reasons has two central themes: You never really know what’s going on in someone else’s life,” and, as Asher writes in every copy of the book he signs, “Everything affects everything.” They’re lessons Yorkey hopes people take away from the show, because, as Clay says in the season 1 finale “It has to get better”. Zoey Grossman ew.com 5-19-17

It is strongly suggested parents watch the series with their children to answer any questions and discuss the issues in the film.

It is also strongly suggested persons with mental illness watch the series with other adults so topics can be discussed.and avoid the triggering of symptoms.

From Mental Health America New York City:

1. Sign a petition to NetFlix—the distributors of “13 Reasons Why”-- to obtain their commitment to (a) including the National Suicide Lifeline number 1-800-273-8255 before and/or after each USA-viewed episode of the series; and (b) work with the Lifeline to develop and promote videos demonstrating the Lifeline’s five “#Bethe1 to” actions steps to prevent suicide.

Please read and sign the petition and distribute it through your business and social networks. The petition can be found here.

2. Disseminate awareness of Logic’s new song, “1-800-273-8255” as an example of positive suicide prevention messaging in the media. The story he tells about the origins and intent of the song are enlightening, and capture the potential of what positive suicide prevention messaging might accomplish in terms of spreading hope and help-seeking (see Youtube)

From the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

As part of our efforts to encourage smart conversations about mental health, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) recently partnered with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) to provide a free webinar for schools and informed community leaders that addresses the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why.

The webinar is titled: A Teachable Moment: Using “13 Reasons Why” to Initiate a Helpful Conversation about Suicide Prevention and Mental Health and can be viewed here:

We also have expert videos and commentary on topics like how to have a conversation with a young person, information tip sheets on issues like how to recognize suicide risks & warning signs, as well as social media shareables (including a cool new video shareable!), brochures, wallet cards, postcards and school-based programs.

Please check out the recorded webinar and these other items listed above by visiting www.afsp.org/mentalhealth. Please share this information with your networks and others who may benefit from this.

From Suicide Prevention Organizations

 A Teachable Moment: Using 13 Reasons Why to Initiate a Helpful Conversation about Suicide Prevention and Mental Health (AFSP/ASCA/NASP) (Webinar)  Tips for Parents for Talking with their Children about 13 Reasons Why and Suicide (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)  Briefing in Connection with the Netflix Series 13 Reasons Why (International Association for Suicide Prevention)  13 Reasons Why Talking Points (The Jed Foundation/Suicide Awareness Voices of Education)

From Other Mental Health/Professional Organizations

 13 Mental Health Questions about 13 Reasons Why (American Psychiatric Association)  13 Reasons Why Netflix Series: How School Counselors Can Help (American School Counselor Association)  13 Reasons Why Netflix Series: Considerations for Educators (National Association of School Psychologists)  13 Ways to Continue the Conversation about 13 Reasons Why (Active Minds)

Other Related Resources

 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  The Trevor Lifeline (The Trevor Project)  SPRC Web Page for Suicide Prevention in Schools (Suicide Prevention Resource Center)  Information for Parents webpage (Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide  Not my Kid: What Parents Should Know about Teen Suicide (Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide) (Video)  Action Alliance Framework for Successful Messaging (National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention)

NAMI Celebrates Mental Health Month A call on Americans to become inspired, informed and involved

This month, NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, will observe Mental Health Month to raise awareness about mental illness and call on all Americans to be 'Into Mental Health: Inspired, Informed, Involved.' The campaign will focus on the power of starting inspiring conversations, being informed to know the right thing to say and becoming involved with NAMI activities.

"Sixty million people in the United States face the day-to-day reality of living with a mental illness and every American is affected through their friends and family," said Mary Giliberti, CEO of NAMI. "Mental Health Month is a time for us all to come together, to inspire people, raise awareness and become involved so we can build better lives for millions of people with mental illness. We're asking everyone to join with us to say, "I'm in to mental health!"

Millions of Americans are affected by mental health conditions every year. Here are facts about the prevalence and impact of mental illness.

 1 in 5 adults in the United States lives with a mental health condition and 1 in 25 adults in the United States lives with a serious mental illness.  Half of all lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 14 and 75% by age 24, but early intervention programs can help.  90% of those who die by suicide have an underlying mental illness.  Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, but suicide is preventable.  The best treatments for serious mental illnesses today are highly effective; between 70 and 90% of individuals have significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life with the right treatments and supports. Mental Health Month is an opportunity to take action where people can provide support, advocate for equal care and fight stigma. Stigma is a sense of shame and disgrace that sets someone apart from others. Dealing with a mental health condition can be tough, and the isolation and blame that is often encouraged by stigma can create huge challenges to moving forward in one's recovery. Mental Health Month provides the opportunity for people to come together to fight stigma.

We want everyone to know they are not alone on this journey and together, we have hope.

For additional information about Mental Health Month, and to access resources and suggested activities, visit: www.nami.org/mhm and www.nami.org/intomentalhealth.