Fiction
People should understand that it is just a TV show
I don’t agree that such TV shows encourage teenagers to entertain sucidal thoughts.
People should know that TV shows are a form of entertainment. It’s not a documentary. The characters may seem real but at the end of the day we know that it is a fictional world that has been created for high school students. It doesn’t glamourise suicide.
The whole show is built around a situation that might happen but people need to draw the line.
I don’t know if this is the norm but this one teenager finds it very hard to express herself in the show but appears to be very strong and tough from the outside. As we’re watching the show, we can see that she’s crumbling from within. So, the key thing is how schools and parents should let the person come forward when they go through such a situation and start a dialogue. You know how fast the world moves nowadays, people don’t have time to stop and care also because they presume everyone has a good support system. So, it is very important for homes to create the support system. So I don’t think books or TV shows are responsible.
But yes, if a person is in a bad place they might take it differently. It depends on what kind of a situation the person is in. It is definitely harder at a certain age, especially when people are expecting you to be tough. Teenagers are constantly under peer pressure and have a need to be popular.
They find it very difficult to communicate because of how society considers suicide. If you are going through a rough patch and all everyone tells you is to ‘move on’, it can be difficult, especially for boys. I personally feel that it is tougher for boys to process emotions. To say it out loud is even more tough. Once you are finally done with that part then the easier part is working on it.
From Mr Salman Khan
Programme manager working in Dubai
Educate
Break the barrier and watch such shows together
I would disagree. What it does is that it educates teenagers and parents to face the issue in a better way. In the show, the students don’t actually talk to their coordinators and teachers and parents, and so they are pushed towards committing suicide and what is understood is that if you do speak out, it would be better.
So, instead of banning the TV show or the book on which it is based, schools should actually make parents and students watch it together. That is ideal. If you break the barrier, then you wouldn’t be raising the thought of commiting suicide. Instead, you’ll help them communicate openly. Every parent wants to be a friend but sometimes a child is not comfortable being a friend with their parents.
I also think it is a cultural issue. A show like that wouldn’t happen in the subcontinent or here either. When we were growing up, we were blessed to have very open communication with our parents. My friends and I found a very good balance with our parents in terms of having the space and freedom to do what we wanted to do but still our parents knew what we were going through. I feel like a lot of space has been given to children and while that might be good for your personality development there has to be some level of monitoring as well.
From Mr Harsh Sagar
Assistant finance manager living in Sharjah
Influence
Suicide is an act of desperation and hopelessness
The show (that out of curiosity I started to watch a few weeks ago since my young patients were watching it and often mentioned it during sessions) is a clear and vivid representation of the life of some, not all, teenagers today, which are marked by alcohol, sex, cyber bullying, drugs and mental issues.
But the young viewers are aware of the fiction. Although the identification with the main character for some girls could be strong, there is no clearly demonstrated correlation between the show and encouragement in suicide.
There are many other social and psychological factors to consider that could encourage teens to choose suicide: social environment, social pressure, lack of family communication and support, education about mental illness, inability to ask for help in case of need and inability of bystanders help. These factors can vary from one individual to another.
Teenagers have access on internet and get information about real people who are depressed, anxious, suffer from mental disorders, people who also commit suicide. This is more disturbing and “influencing” in my opinion than a fictional show.
Suicide is an act of desperation and hopelessness. More psychological education among teens and families about mental disorders, bullying and how to react to it with the help of parents, are the best ways to prevent such tragedies.
I would say that this series has offered the opportunity to talk about these topics.
The issue of suicide is very serious. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people and adults in the US. Despite the technology we have, I feel that there is not enough clear communication about bullying and suicide. At schools and homes suicide should be a topic of discussion, as I believe we should not treat it as a taboo topic. We should offer children an opportunity to talk and learn about something they might be thinking about or some problems they might experience.
From Dr Valeria Risoli
Clinical Psychologist living in Dubai
Helpline
People have a misconception that talking about suicide would plant the thought in a child’s mind
We set up the Louis Smith Foundation, after our son Louis killed himself in December 2013. We came home one day and found him. It was totally out of the blue, he never mentioned that he was having problems. We’ve always been an open family and he seemed like a happy child. But he was obviously having problems and for some reason didn’t talk about it. That is when we realised that there was nowhere in the UAE for young children and adolescents to have a first place of call. Yes, there are hosiptails and clinics but there is a gap before you get to that stage and that is the gap we would like to fill.
We are still waiting for the chairty status for the Louis Smith Foundation. Our plan is to set up a helpline and raise awareness and educate people.
The main misconception people have is that if you start talking about suicide then you plant the seed about depression and suicide in the child’s mind. That’s not true. It’s been proven time and again that talking about it opens the channel of communicaiton.
So, I don’t agree that TV shows, movies or video games influence people. I suppose an age rating is necessary, for several reasons. While I have not watched this TV show, neither has any member of my family, I know about it. I only heard about it a few weeks ago when my children’s school contacted me to let us know that parents had raised a concern about it.
The school knows what has happened with our son Louis and wanted to warn us. I spoke to a friend of mine who has watched it and I believe it is very graphic and detailed, especially the last two episodes. But we have always said this — anyone who is mentally healthy doesn’t decide to kill themselves because of a TV show. There must always be an underlying issue.
I don’t know what can be done speficially to prevent suicides, suicide levels have risen and between the ages of 17-24 are the biggest killers of boys and girls. And I don’t know whether it has got anything to do with social media or the lifestyle that children live nowadays. Or may be it has always been there and we are paying more attention to it now ... I don’t know the answer to it.
From Ms Lisa Barfoot-Smith
Co-founder of the Louis Smith Foundation
