Teen Suicide: Annotated Bibliography

The New York Times article by Benedict Carey titled "In the Months After 13 Reasons Why's Debut on Netflix, a Study Finds Teen Suicide Grew" explores the effects of the teen-friendly TV program 13 Reasons Why, which tells the tale of a young girl who commits suicide. In April 2017, a month following the show's debut, there was an increase in suicides among American youths between the ages of 10 and 17 of 28.9%, according to the report. This data is from a study just published in JAMA Pediatrics (Carey, 2019). The primary argument made in this article is that media portrayals of specific behaviors or attitudes might harm audiences who are more susceptible, such as adolescents dealing with mental health concerns. The article makes the case that

This article provides more evidence supporting the idea that media coverage of suicide can significantly impact vulnerable individuals, particularly those struggling with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts. (Suicide and Suicidal Behavior - PMC, 2008) Investigating how social media could affect suicidal behavior is one proposal for future research. As platforms like Instagram and TikTok have grown in popularity, there is rising worry about how these websites may cause young people to feel inadequate and hopeless. Finding out which online interactions or information is more hazardous than others, as well as any potential negative impacts, would be

The article argues persuasively for responsible media coverage of delicate subjects like suicide and demonstrates how popular culture impacts mental health. Although there is considerable disagreement over whether the program truly portrays the difficulties that young people encounter, the popularity of the program inevitably had an unexpected side effect: a rise in teen suicides. Recognizing how popular culture affects public opinion and working to encourage good attitudes about mental health concerns are vital. Additionally, we should foster social situations where those facing mental health issues can receive assistance without worrying about judgment or condemnation. A study comparing social media use and youth mental health examines how youth mental health outcomes are impacted by social media use and identify several factors that contribute to unfavorable results, including cyberbullying, lack of sleep brought on by excessive screen time, and feelings of inadequacy brought on by false online comparisons. (Karim, 2020) One proposal for further study on this subject is to look at how communities and schools might collaborate to raise mental health awareness and offer more resources to children who need them. This can entail putting in place research-supported initiatives to increase coping abilities, foster resilience, and lessen the stigma associated with mental illness. To apply