Parental guidance
The National Association of School Psychologists suggests parents talk with their children who are watching or have watched the Netflix show 13 Reasons Why.
The following is a list of five suggested questions or ways to get the conversation started:
• Ask your children if they have heard or seen the series 13 Reasons Why. Tell them you want to watch it, with them or to catch up, and discuss their thoughts.
• Don’t be afraid to ask if they have thought about suicide or if someone is hurting them. Raising the issue of suicide does not increase the risk or plant the idea. On the contrary, it creates the opportunity to offer help.
• Ask if they think any of their friends or classmates exhibit warning signs. Talk with them about how to seek help for their friend or classmate. Guide them on how to respond when they see or hear any of the warning signs.
• Listen to your children’s comments without judgment. Doing so requires that you fully concentrate, understand, respond and then remember what is being said. Put your own agenda aside.
• Get help from a school-employed or community-based mental health professional if you are concerned for your child’s safety or the safety of one of their peers.
– Craig Webb