Release of “13 Reasons Why” Associated with Increase in Youth Suicide Rates • Hacker News Board

Re: Release of “13 Reasons Why” Associated with Increase in Youth Suicide Rates

#11

Post by Mikeb85 » Fri, Aug 30, 2019, 6:32 PM UTC

pgrote wrote: post #6

"When researchers analyzed the data by sex, they found the increase in the suicide rate was primarily driven by significant increases in suicide in young males. While suicide rates for females increased after the show’s release, the increase was not statistically significant." I have watched the series. I wonder why males saw a significant increase in suicides if the show revolved around a female suicide. And, yes, I…

Males commit suicide more, in general (in western countries). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_differences_in_suicide

Edit - as for why there were more male suicides linked to this show, one reason for male suicides in western countries is the increasing marginalisation of men (whereas in countries with more female suicides or a more equal ratio, women are highly marginalised). If the show glorifies suicide as a way to gain more attention and de-marginalise the individual, it makes sense that more young men would do it.

Re: Release of “13 Reasons Why” Associated with Increase in Youth Suicide Rates

#12

Post by MattSteelblade » Fri, Aug 30, 2019, 6:33 PM UTC

Is there a link to the study?

Re: Release of “13 Reasons Why” Associated with Increase in Youth Suicide Rates

#13

Post by ajeet_dhaliwal » Fri, Aug 30, 2019, 6:33 PM UTC

aphextim wrote: post #2

Same reason that when they show the shooter's face all over the media and they give them tons and tons of attention, it typically spawns more copycats who are just lonely/sad/broken teens looking for the same attention. In the show, this teen's suicide was portrayed to have had an impact on many students/families/teachers etc for a very long time after the incident. It almost glorified the suicide and the methods of…

I don't have much experience with suicide but to add to this, I think attention can go both ways. I once saw a picture of someone who had committed suicide and it was quite distressing. Attention can both lead to glorification or put people off, depending on the way it's done. In most cases it seems to be hidden away and people may not know what actually happens when they do this. One common example now is the jumping off a bridge death into water is still considered a peaceful way to go whereas it's extremely violent and all the organs are ripped out of their positions.

Re: Release of “13 Reasons Why” Associated with Increase in Youth Suicide Rates

#14

Post by acf_plot » Fri, Aug 30, 2019, 6:33 PM UTC

But how many of those students watched the series? Or was it less direct? Maybe the show’s popularity led to a higher number of suicide discussions, insults, references etc?

Re: Release of “13 Reasons Why” Associated with Increase in Youth Suicide Rates

#15

Post by lallysingh » Fri, Aug 30, 2019, 6:34 PM UTC

pgrote wrote: post #6

"When researchers analyzed the data by sex, they found the increase in the suicide rate was primarily driven by significant increases in suicide in young males. While suicide rates for females increased after the show’s release, the increase was not statistically significant." I have watched the series. I wonder why males saw a significant increase in suicides if the show revolved around a female suicide. And, yes, I…

IIRC males tend to be more successful in their attempts. So the women may have tried more but not successfully enough to tip the scales.

Re: Release of “13 Reasons Why” Associated with Increase in Youth Suicide Rates

#16

Post by kaffeemitsahne » Fri, Aug 30, 2019, 6:34 PM UTC

Potentially OT. Why do people write

>"While suicide rates for females increased after the show’s release, the increase was not statistically significant."

instead of

>"Suicide rates for females did not increase significantly after the show's release."

?

I have seen this quite often and it always seems a bit misleading to me.

Edit: I should have written the 2nd version as "No statistically significant increase in [...] was found". My point is not about the difference between "significance" and "statistical significance" but about mentioning an effect, while also saying the effect is not statistically significant. If it's not statistically significant, why mention it?

Re: Release of “13 Reasons Why” Associated with Increase in Youth Suicide Rates

#17

Post by penagwin » Fri, Aug 30, 2019, 6:34 PM UTC

Depression is a tough topic. Speaking from experience here, it's healthy to talk about your feelings, etc. But if you look at the communities like # depression on tumblr/reddit etc, I bet it will make healthy people feel a bit depressed.

In kinda a cyclic issue, the problem is that depressed people need to sorrounded them selves with happy people to talk to, consume more positive media,etc.

Otherwise you end up feeding your own depression, producing and consuming more depressive content and comments with others.

To anyone facing depression : Please talk to a therapist, and consider avoiding needlessly negative communities/media. Sorrounding yourself with depressing things won't help.

Re: Release of “13 Reasons Why” Associated with Increase in Youth Suicide Rates

#18

Post by asadlionpk » Fri, Aug 30, 2019, 6:34 PM UTC

tyingq wrote: post #7

I'm curious if there's an unusual dip after the spike. In other words, it might have accelerated some suicides, versus adding to the overall rate over a longer time period.

That would be true if all the population watched the series at t0. But in reality the series is always new to someone somewhere.

Re: Release of “13 Reasons Why” Associated with Increase in Youth Suicide Rates

#19

Post by ousta » Fri, Aug 30, 2019, 6:35 PM UTC

Mikeb85 wrote: post #11

pgrote wrote: post #6

"When researchers analyzed the data by sex, they found the increase in the suicide rate was primarily driven by significant increases in suicide in young males. While suicide rates for females increased after the show’s release, the increase was not statistically significant." I have watched the series. I wonder why males saw a significant increase in suicides if the show revolved around a female suicide. And, yes, I…

Males commit suicide more, in general (in western countries). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_differences_in_suicide Edit - as for why there were more male suicides linked to this show, one reason for male suicides in western countries is the increasing marginalisation of men (whereas in countries with more female suicides or a more equal ratio, women are highly marginalised). If the show glorifies suicide as a…

be careful don't state facts like this here. that might trigger some Californians.

Re: Release of “13 Reasons Why” Associated with Increase in Youth Suicide Rates

#20

Post by TheArcane » Fri, Aug 30, 2019, 6:35 PM UTC

umvi wrote: post #10

aphextim wrote: post #2

Same reason that when they show the shooter's face all over the media and they give them tons and tons of attention, it typically spawns more copycats who are just lonely/sad/broken teens looking for the same attention. In the show, this teen's suicide was portrayed to have had an impact on many students/families/teachers etc for a very long time after the incident. It almost glorified the suicide and the methods of…

The scary thing is that both this article and the example you cited are used as reasons to limit constitutional freedoms: Limit second amendment more to prevent mass shootings. Limit first amendment more to prevent suicides. Really though, we should be focusing on the root cause: lonely/sad/broken people. Focus on helping/loving them and I bet suicide/mass shooting rates drop significantly.

> Limit second amendment more to prevent more shootings.

I've always wondered the validity of a "constitutional freedom" that allows random everyday people to own and operate tools that are essentially killing machines.