The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has received numerous requests for guidance regarding the upcoming second season of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. Netflix has not formally announced the release date, but prerelease promotions and media coverage indicate a release date sometime this spring, approximately a year after the release of the first season.

NASP has not been able to preview the second season, but we can provide the following information and considerations.

1. The first season, which was virally popular among adolescents, raised significant concerns for parents, educators, and mental health professionals because of its dramatic, often graphic portrayal of difficult issues such as sexual assault and suicide. Netflix’s stated goal of sparking conversations about these very real issues is a good one. However, most experts believed that the intense handling of the content without appropriate safeguards (such as warning cards before each episode) had the potential to put some vulnerable youth at risk for emotional distress or harmful behavior, including increased suicide ideation and attempts. 
2. NASP issued guidance to help schools and families engage in supportive discussions with youth and respond to the needs of those who may have been triggered by viewing the series. We also joined with other education and mental health organizations to communicate directly with Netflix about concerns regarding a second season.
3. Chief among our recommendations were to address: the lack of cautions regarding vulnerable youth and safeguards associated with each episode, the overwhelmingly negative choices and actions of the teen characters, the unrealistically clueless and uncaring depiction of adults, the failure to address mental health directly, and the unnecessarily graphic and potentially triggering depiction of harmful behaviors, such as a possible school shooting alluded to at the end of the first season.
4. Netflix appears to have listened to some of the guidance they received. Cast members have recorded a video warning some viewers that they may not want to watch the series if they are struggling with similar issues, or to watch the series with a trusted adult. The video also urges viewers to “reach out for help” and “talk to someone” if they need assistance. Netflix has indicated that it will provide warning cards before each episode, a discussion guide designed to facilitate conversations and outlets for assistance for viewers, and other safeguards.
5. Importantly, there are indications that young people are watching or rewatching the first season in order to “be up to speed” for the second season. Netflix has created a discussion guide and added some additional warning cards; however, we strongly recommend that vulnerable children and youth (such as those struggling with depression, previous suicidal behavior, or trauma) not watch the first season, and most certainly not alone. Schools and parents can refer to our season 1 guidance for additional recommendations.
6. Netflix has not confirmed the season 2 storylines other than to say that most of the season 1 characters will return and that difficult issues will again be explored. Given the possible storylines set up at the end of season 1 (e.g., another suicide attempt, a rape trial, and a school shooting), it is important for adults to be aware of what the children and youth in their care are watching. This includes monitoring access to content via computers and mobile devices.
7. School psychologists and other school-employed mental health professionals can assist stakeholders (e.g., school administrators, parents, and teachers) to engage in supportive conversations with children and youth as well as provide resources and offer expertise in preventing harmful behaviors. Following are some general recommendations:

• Provide the guidance developed by NASP for 13 Reasons Why, Season 1 to parents and educators.
• Encourage parents to watch the series with their child; children and youth who view this series may need supportive adults to help process it. Help students articulate their perceptions when viewing controversial content. The difficult issues portrayed do occur in schools and communities, and it is important for adults to listen, take adolescents’ concerns seriously, and be willing to offer to help.
• Caution against binge watching, as doing so with intense content, particularly in isolation, can be associated with increased mental health concerns.
• Reinforce that school-employed mental health professionals are available to help.
• Make sure parents, teachers, and students are aware of suicide risk warning signs. Always take warning signs seriously, and never promise to keep them secret. Establish a confidential reporting mechanism for students.
• Reinforcing resiliency and protective factors can lessen the potential of risk factors that lead to suicidal ideation and behaviors. Once a child or adolescent is considered at risk, schools, families, and friends should work to build these factors in and around the youth.

NASP fully supports a stated goal for the Netflix series: the need for forthright discussions among youth and between youth and adults about the serious issues represented. We are hopeful that Netflix is adopting a responsible way to do this, which requires both providing the scaffolding for supportive engagement and minimizing harmful triggers. We will offer further content-specific guidance if deemed necessary, once we have had to opportunity to review the second season.

Resources

• National Suicide Prevention Hotline,1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text “START” to 741741
• SAMHSA Prevention Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center, After a Suicide: Toolkit for Schools
• School Violence Prevention
• “13 Reasons Why” Netflix Series(Season 1): Considerations for Educators and Families

Websites

• National Association of School Psychologists, www.nasponline.org
• Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, www.save.org
• American Association of Suicidology, www.suicidology.org
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, https://afsp.org/
• Stopbullying.gov
• Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, www.rainn.org
• 13reasonswhy.info/

© 2018, National Association of School Psychologists, 4340 East West Highway, Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-657-0270, www.nasponline.org