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*Trigger Warning* This post discusses suicide.

A mother in the UK has issued a warning about a popular drama series that she believes encouraged her daughter to take her own life.

Rachael Warburton blames the Netflix show 13 Reasons Why for her daughter’s death, reports The Mirror.

The grieving mum says her 12 year old daughter, Jessica, left a suicide note with six reasons to kill herself after watching the Netflix show.

“Its intentions are to raise suicide awareness but I believe it encourages young people to commit suicide. All Jessica’s friends were messaging each other discussing the series. Parents should be warned not to let their children watch it.”

13 reasons 13 reasons

Jessica Scatterson, from Warrington in the country’s north-west, was found in her bedroom two days before her thirteenth birthday in 2017.

An inquest into the 12-year-old’s death heard she had been tormented by school bullies and had struggled to cope with the pressures of social media.

Coroner Alan Moore said Jessica had “felt emotionally overwhelmed” when she died and “the level and the intensity of her activity on social media platforms…cannot have failed to have influenced her intentions”.

He said a letter posted by Jessica online listed six reasons why she wanted to take her own life, citing the note as “highly significant evidence because it demonstrates a clear intent on Jessica’s part to take her own life and it also indicates the means at which she intended to do so”.

But Jessica’s mother, Rachael, believes the television series had a big role to play in influencing her daughter.

“Jessica was watching this show with her friends and listed six reasons why she wanted to die,” Scatterson told The Mirror.

“It should be banned, because my daughter watched it and it gives children the idea to self-harm.”

The show follows the story of a teenager who tries to uncover the decisions why his classmate ended her life.

The mum is now calling for tighter parental controls to be implemented by Netflix to protect young children from accessing the content.

Netflix does include a “content warning” for the show which reads: “This series contains scenes that viewers may find disturbing, including graphic depictions of sexual assault, substance abuse and suicide”.

It then directs viewers to crisis and support centres in their country of origin.

There have been numerous calls for the series to be axed. Read more on the topic below.

If you or someone you know needs help call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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  • I actually watched this show a few months ago. In no way did they glorify the suicide, it was horribly tragic and showed how bullying of different types, or neglect from school staff who was meant to be there for her, led to her doing something terrible. Also the pain felt by her friends and family she left behind. If anything, it should’ve shown the teenager what committing suicide would do to her parents, her friends, anyone close. How it would hurt them, and that she needs to speak up to her parents or someone that will listen. I wish she could’ve seen that side rather than the way to make people feel accountable and blamed when it’s too late. Being that depressed you don’t think rationally though. So very tragic and heartbreaking, R.I.P.

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  • I’m thinking the mum is maybe feeling some guilt and looking for something to blame. The girl must’ve had issues to suicide, more then just watching this show. There would be so many more who have watched it, learnt from it, and are still alive. I found it to be a very powerful show with a good message

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  • How devastating for the family. Social media is such a dangerous thing for teens and tweens.

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  • Such a terrible thing to happen. There is much that social media has caused and unfortunately parents can’t be there all the time watching over their children. Pity we can’t media proof our children somehow.

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  • The poor Mum that’s a tragedy that one would never get over

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  • Very sorry for her loss

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  • scary

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  • This is a terrible occurance, for a lot of children Jessica’s passing will be the first death they have experienced and the death of a person your own age is a altering experience.

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  • 12 yrs is very young to commit such an act. But at that age children are very sensitive for group behaviour and peer pressure and are extremely influential. This makes it even more important for us to stay in tune with our teens !

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  • Very alarming. It’s hard to put the blame completely on one show. As stated she was also being bullied as well.

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  • this is tragic for the family – but I don’t feel the TV should be blamed for the suicide. There was obviously more to it. In regards to restrictions for netflix – you can set up to kids programs only for your children to watch so you know there not watching anything inappropriate.

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  • Can this be watched at any time of day or only in a time slot? I check what the children are watching. However it can be difficult as there is big age gaps. What is suitable for the eldest are definitely suitable for either of the younger ones. My eldest one (12 y.o.) is definitely not old enough to watch this.

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  • It probably did influence her, but sadly there are so many potential triggers that no one can be protected from them all.

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  • This is heartbreaking for the family in every possible way.

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  • I think we are at the stage where we need to take responsibility or have our children take self responsibility rather than finding tv shows, games etc to blame.

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