Researchers did not establish a direct causal link between “13 Reasons Why” and the suicide spike, AFP reports. However, incidents like this seem to imply a connection between the show’s contents and suicidal ideation.

Based on a book, “13 Reasons Why” follows the story of a teenage girl who took her own life. Critics claim it puts vulnerable youth at risk by glamorizing suicide and self-harm.

Set Free Ministries’ Glenn Dunn says many teens can identify with the show’s themes. Young people encounter tough issues like bullying, sexual harassment, self-harm, and suicidal ideation on a regular basis.

“These teens, unfortunately, believe that [suicide] may be the way out for their pain. And, unfortunately, in many cases, [they] act upon that.”

However, the scope of America’s teen suicide crisis goes far beyond this specific show. “13 Reasons Why” and similar content are like the tip of an iceberg: they’re part of the bigger problem, but not the whole.

Teen suicide: a clear and present danger

(Photo courtesy istock via ICTMN.com)

As noted here, 38-percent of young people surveyed by the CDC in 2017 had either seriously thought about taking their own life, made a plan, or attempted to commit suicide. Suicide remains the second-leading cause of death for young people between 10- and 24-years old.

Risk factors vary, but Dunn says media consumption plays a significant role in the cases they encounter at Set Free. “There’s tremendous pressure to live through a lens of social media, which isn’t accurate,” he explains.

“[Social media] only presents, quite frankly, a lie in many cases of what the real world is all about… when they (teens) don’t measure up to that, they have tremendous anxiety that oftentimes then leads to depression.”

Like a deadly downward spiral, depression – when left untreated – often leads to suicidal thoughts. When teens act on those thoughts, entire families are forever changed.

Suicide is a complex and multi-faceted issue, but that doesn’t make it taboo. “It’s a viable issue that teenagers are wrestling with,” Dunn says.

“They question who they are, and what value they have in life… we need to meet them right there and give them those answers through Scripture and through Jesus Christ Himself.”

He encourages churches to join the conversation.

“It’s time for us to step up and really help these young [people]. This is the hope of the church in the future.”

From darkness to light

If you or a loved one struggles with suicidal thoughts, reach out to Set Free Ministries today. There is a road to hope.

“Part of it [involves] putting off some of the old lies and working through that, and then putting on the new truth of who they are in Jesus Christ,” Dunn explains. “That’s what we do here.

“It takes a little bit of time but, slowly and lovingly, we see amazing breakthrough in that process.”

Visit Set Free’s website to learn more about their work.

Header image courtesy of Netflix via Facebook.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 129 people take their life every day. As we reported last year, the national suicide rate has been steadily rising since the late 1990s.

Set Free’s Dean Vander Mey says, “There [are] multiple reasons why the suicide rate keeps going up. But, I think it can all be attributed back to…we’re turning our back on God and now the stats are showing that.

“It’s just kind of proof that you can live life any way you want, but there’s going to be consequences.”

U.S. suicide: a spiritual perspective

(Photo by bruce mars from Pexels)

Youth suicide tends to get the most media attention, especially given the recent spike and an alleged connection to the Netflix show, ‘13 Reasons Why.’ However, the most recent suicide statistics reveal that middle-aged men have the highest suicide rate.

In Oregon, 90-percent of suicides involve people over 25 years old; many victims are men.

“A lot of it seems to correlate with economics and what happens in economics,” Vander Mey observes.

“When you have men who have worked their whole life, and they think they’re going to have a nest egg and then it all collapses and goes away – that causes a lot of despair.”

This Reuters article also cites a connection between economic stability and suicide rates. Meanwhile, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) points to celebrity suicide as a possible trigger event. The NIMH study examined data surrounding Robin Williams’ self-inflicted death in 2014 and its influence on suicides during that time period.

The factors and circumstances leading people to commit suicide vary widely. However, Vander Mey says a spiritual cause is largely unacknowledged and unaddressed. “What I see going on today in the USA is we’re turning our back on God; we’re going secular,” he explains.

(Photo by Ethan Sykes on Unsplash)

“We’re choosing our own path…[and] God will let you do that. The Bible kind of says, ‘Love God or love the world, make your choice.’”

Even when people choose a life path that brings them far away from God’s side, He doesn’t give up on them. That’s why Set Free Ministries exists – to rescue and remind people of the redemption available through Christ. Based in West Michigan, the ministry helps suicidal individuals on a near-daily basis.

Learn more about Set Free Ministries here.

“For those contemplating suicide, I would say there’s hope — just know there’s hope.”

The conversation continues tomorrow with a look at warning signs and practical ways to help people who are suicidal.

Header image courtesy of Nathan Cowley via Pexels.

“A show that can run that long with that topic, obviously it’s hitting heartstrings…it’s indicative of what’s happening in our culture. We’re not OK.”

13 Reasons Why: culture’s response to suicide

Adapted for television from a book by the same title, 13 Reasons Why revolves around the suicide of teenager Hannah Baker and the cassette tapes she leaves behind. Each tape is dedicated to a classmate and explains that person’s role in Baker’s decision to commit suicide.

(Header and story photo courtesy Netflix via Facebook)

Along with teen suicide, the show addresses several issues that are prevalent in today’s culture: bullying, sexual assault, gun violence, and more. Brian Yorkey, who adapted the content for film and is one of the show’s executive producers, says the show’s purpose goes beyond entertainment.

“What happened to Hannah will always be the first clause of the story. The rest of the story is about young people, as so many young people… [learn] how to heal from the things that have hurt them…to make the world that they want it to be, not just the world they are inheriting…and above all, how to take care of each other.”

Netflix intends the show to “bridge the gap” between teens and parents when it comes to discussing tough topics, but critics say 13 Reasons Why does more harm than good. Here’s a balanced assessment from Psychology Today.

Silence: the Church’s response to suicide

To Vander Mey, the popularity of a show like 13 Reasons Why reflects the pain, desperation, and prevalence of teen suicide in our culture.

(Photo by it’s me neosiam from Pexels)

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 24, and there is one death by suicide in the US every 12 minutes. As reported here, the admissions of patients ages 5 to 17 for suicidal thoughts and actions more than doubled between 2008 and 2015.

Instead of speaking hope into that darkness, most Christians are holding back.

“We’re letting the culture run us instead of believers shining light into the darkness,” states Vander Mey.

“Our young people are being pulled into this ‘vortex’ and they really don’t know what to do, and I don’t think the Church is necessarily addressing the real issues.”

As reported last year by Baptist Press, a study by LifeWay Research found that many (76 percent) of churchgoers felt suicide was an issue in their community that needed to be addressed. However, half of the pastors studied didn’t feel prepared to address it, responding “somewhat agree” to this statement: Our church is equipped to assist someone who is threatening to take his or her own life.

Vander Mey echoes these sentiments, pointing to the spiritual elements surrounding suicide: identity, truth, confessing and renouncing sin, and more.

“You can’t give away what you don’t have, and our pastors are not trained for this. I don’t know of one seminary that teaches spiritual warfare.”

(Photo courtesy istock via ICTMN.com)

That’s why a young lady we’ll leave unnamed came to Set Free for help. She didn’t know where else to turn. She “went to church twice each Sunday, loved the Lord; made it all through high school, she was fine,” shares Vander Mey. Then she went to college.

“This girl — a Christian girl from a Christian home — within three months was suicidal.”

In order to fit in with her new peers, she adapted to their culture – parties, “hooking up”, experimentation.

“In 90 days she had slept with 14 people, 3 of them were girls, and she wanted to kill herself,” says Vander Mey.  “She almost committed suicide, and we walked her off that cliff. We got her spun around, walking back toward God.”

National Suicide Awareness Month

September is National Suicide Awareness Month in the U.S. After all we’ve discussed today, would you prayerfully take a few moments and ask God how He’d like you to respond?

First, go to God’s Word and seek Him through prayer. Then, find ways to help. You can start by reading some of our past articles on the subject or by contacting Set Free.

“The first time He (Jesus) reveals Himself as Messiah…He says, ‘the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon Me to preach good news to the poor’… ‘He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to open the eyes of the blind, to release the oppressed and set captives free.’…that’s what Jesus Christ came to do,” says Vander Mey, referring to Luke 4:18.

(Photo by Dương Nhân from Pexels)

“Think about that one verse – the mission statement of Jesus – now, who’s responsible and who’s anointed to go help those who want to commit suicide? Who’s equipped for that? It should be the Church.”

What do you think? Chime in on Facebook, or leave a comment below.