Concerns For Mental Health of Teens After Watching 'A Star is Born' Movie

The movie ‘A Star Is Born’ has been forced to change classification in New Zealand after teenagers were “severely triggered” by the film’s final scene.

The movie starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, now comes with a suicide warning in the classification notes after complaints of viewer distress from the Police Victim Support over Cooper’s character, Jackson Maine, hanging himself in his garage.

Further complaints were also filed with the Office of Film & Literature Classification by the Mental Health Foundation, shares Yahoo 7.

The film is rated M in New Zealand — “unrestricted, suitable for 16 years and over” — similar to its classification in Australia (also M rated).

The head of the New Zealand film classification board David Shanks told the Guardian he demanded a new warning be issued because many young people became “severely triggered” over the suicide scene.

“Many people in New Zealand have been impacted by suicide,” he said. “For those who have lost someone close to them, a warning gives them a chance to make an informed choice about watching.”

The Mental Health Foundation credited the film with discretion as the death happens off screen, but tells the Guardian that it heard that some viewers had left screenings feeling extremely distressed and requiring access to professional support.

A Star Is Born is rated R in the US, meaning those under the age of 17 require an accompanying parent or guardian.

If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or a loved one, seek support and information by calling Lifeline 13 11 14

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23 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 19 Dec 2022
    1:01 pm
I really feel like this was such a good movie but I agree that the scene in question come as a bit of a shock.

- - ella12 said
  - 11 Jan 2019
    1:18 pm
It may be a spoiler alert but a warning is definitely needed at the beginning of the movie on such an important topic.

- - rnash02 said
  - 01 Jan 2019
    6:09 am
Youd think it wouldn’t matter what country a movie is played it they’d all have the same rating, yes agree a warning should be played first.

- - mom185490 said
  - 30 Nov 2018
    9:27 pm
Big time spoiler alert, but I can see the worth in the warning. People affected by suicide have a right to choose if they want to view this content as it could trigger an emotional state.

- - mom70876 said
  - 17 Nov 2018
    9:25 pm
Isn’t this essentially a remake? Why is this worse than the first?

- - curlytops said
  - 14 Nov 2018
    11:11 am
is Australia going to do the same?

- - rovermum said
  - 14 Nov 2018
    9:02 am
I’ve heard a lot of support for both sides. It’s obviously a spoiler alert for anyone that hasn’t seen the movie. I’ve seen it 3 times and had no idea when I first saw it for how it would end. I did then suggest my son not see it – however he is 17 and went with 2 mates. I had already told him what happened in case it became an issue. And I have a friend who I have suggested she don’t see it at this point in time as she has a daughter dealing with serious mental health issue and I think it may be too upsetting.

- - littlehandsofmine said
  - 13 Nov 2018
    2:55 pm
Oh that’s really sad, but yep it’s a spoiler alert.

- - MisChip said
  - 13 Nov 2018
    12:19 am
Argh!! Spoiler alert!

- - Vanessa said
  - 12 Nov 2018
    8:46 pm
Wow! Rated R in USA and only M in AUS…. that says something!…. our children need support, protection, education and above all help with these themes… about time we stepped up esp the film labelling industry.

- - Ellen said
  - 12 Nov 2018
    4:16 am
Yes certainly needs a warning. Not only for teenagers, but adults who have lost loved ones by suicide are in need of a warning to, so they know what they’re watching.

- - Mum2archer said
  - 09 Nov 2018
    9:34 am
Oh bugger, needed a spoil alert at the start of the article not the middle! Now I’ll be expecting it the whole time.
Although if this is the case, it needs a warning

- - Cookfromscratchmum said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    9:47 pm
They definitely need a warning ⚠️ at the beginning of the movie

- - Blossom said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    9:16 pm
I don’t know the contents of the movie but if there has been complaints and they are justified there should definitely be warnings issued and perhaps local counsellers listed on the screen after the credits. Those who are 18 y.o. + could handle the contents of the movie badly too.

- - becstalou said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    8:43 pm
Argh needed a big spoiler alert at the start of the article.

- - mom90758 said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    8:31 pm
OPs! Now we already know how it ends! But important to know about the suicide, absolutely!!

- - ashna9 said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    7:53 pm
Probably good to have a warning when so many young people will watch the movie.

- - mom160421 said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    6:00 pm
Whoa! Spoiler Alert! I haven’t seen this movie yet and would have preferred not to know the ending. However, I can see how there needs to be a warning for teens.
- mom93821 replied
  
  09 Nov 2018 , 6:51 am
  I know! Same feeling….no! Now I know the ending!
- - mom74005 said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    5:45 pm
I have heard it is meant to be good and with that you think they would warn the community of its underlying references.

- - mom112217 said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    5:41 pm
Have yet to see the movie so l will relate then!